Conn to host Congressional debate on Oct. 10
Connecticut College will host a U.S. House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District debate featuring Democratic incumbent Joe Courtney and Republican candidate Mike France on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in Evans Hall, Cummings Arts Center. The debate will also be broadcast live on WFSB Channel 3.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and all attendees must be seated by 6:45 p.m. Students, faculty and staff from Connecticut College, Mitchell College, Three Rivers Community College and the Coast Guard Academy are invited to attend with a valid college ID. Please note that seating is limited. There are a limited number of public tickets available through The Day newspaper. This event is sponsored by Connecticut College, The Day and WFSB Channel 3.
Connecticut College President Andrea Chapdelaine will deliver opening remarks. The Day’s Lee Howard is moderating, and panelists will include The Day’s opinion page editor, Owen Poole; WFSB’s chief political reporter, Susan Raff; and Sophia Williams ’26, ambassador of Camels Vote, a nonpartisan campus initiative that promotes voting and civic engagement.
Williams said debates are a critical part of the democratic process. “Information is one of the biggest barriers to voting, and having a space where candidates are able to come together in a civil manner to hold discourse surrounding the issues most pressing to the American public helps ensure people feel their voices are heard,” she said.
In a recent interview with Fox61, Williams said more than 300 students attended presidential debate watch parties across Conn’s campus Sept. 10, and she hopes to see similar interest in the local debate Oct. 10. “We were so excited that so many students were showing up and caring enough about the debate to come out and watch the entire thing with their peers.”
Williams said she got involved in Camels Vote because “as a government major, I understand how important civic engagement is, especially within the younger demographic. Prior to my involvement, Camels Vote has done such amazing work, and I have been so lucky to continue their legacy in mobilizing Conn students to participate in our democracy.”
She added that she is very grateful to be a part of the debate panel and is excited “to be able to partake in a portion of our democratic process that I have been studying and … help politicians understand that the issues that matter to younger generations are issues they need to be campaigning on and including in their agenda, because we are the future of this country.”
The League of Women Voters and Camels Vote Ambassadors from the Holleran Center will manage timekeeping and collect questions for the candidates, which can be submitted here by Friday, Oct. 4.
Please note: Politically affiliated signs, clothing, hats or other items are not permitted at the debate. For inquiries, contact Rebecca McCue, director of Community Engagement and Holleran Center Operations, at ramcc@conncoll.edu.
