WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican Bernie Moreno are busy making their cases to voters at campaign stops across Ohio—but likely won’t be arguing their positions on a debate stage. Neither candidate has committed to debate, even as both claim they want to face off.

“Most reporters have seen me debate every race I’ve ever run in. I still plan a debate if it gets to that, but I would like to debate. I’ve always said that,” Brown told reporters at a campaign rally on Oct. 8.

Moreno campaign spokesperson Reagan McCarthy said in a statement,

“Bernie has repeatedly expressed interest in debating Sherrod Brown. We are not going to negotiate the terms of any debate in the press.”

Neither campaign would comment on why they have not been able to agree on a format, though campaigns often clash with debate organizers over rules and moderators before either committing to debate or skipping a debate entirely.

The Ohio Debate Commission wrote in a statement,

“The ODC has invited both campaigns to participate in a debate, and while the invitation has been acknowledged, no formal response has been received from either campaign.”

Having no debate would break precedent for Ohio Senate races, especially in this year’s high-stakes race that could determine which party controls the Senate.

Brown has debated opponents in each of his three previous Senate bids. Sen. JD Vance debated former Rep. Tim Ryan in 2022. Moreno participated in three debates in this year’s Republican primary, including one moderated by Spectrum News.

Senate race debates have become less frequent across the nation this year. Senate candidates in Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona and Nevada are all meeting for just one debate each.