Candidates for the US Senate in Indiana are set for a televised debate only

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young will face his two re-election opponents Sunday in their only scheduled televised debate ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

The debate comes as Democrat Thomas McDermott, Hammond’s mayor, struggles to gain traction against Young, who has huge fundraising and organizational advantages in seeking his second term.

Libertarian James Sceniak is also taking part in the debate, which will be broadcast on several TV stations across the state.

Young followed the favorite’s strategy by largely ignoring McDermott, who has been Hammond’s mayor since 2004 but is little known outside of northwest Indiana.

Despite Democrats and Republicans battling hard for control of the current Senate 50-50, Indiana’s Senate race has not seen the tens of millions in outside spending it attracted four years ago when Republican Mike Braun defeated Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly and in 2016. when Young won the Senate seat over former Democratic U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.

Young avoided a primary challenge this year despite not fully embracing Donald Trump’s presidency — and not getting Trump’s endorsement. Young voted to acquit Trump in his Senate impeachment trial, but voted to confirm President Joe Biden’s election victory.

McDermott, a lawyer and U.S. Navy veteran, has tried to build appeal to the working-class voters Trump is attracted to while advocating for congressional protections for abortion rights and federal legalization of marijuana.

Young highlighted the Senate’s work, including its push to secure billions in federal money to encourage more semiconductor companies to build chip factories in the United States in the face of an ambitious China.