Eric Jones Accepts KCRA Debate Invitation, Calls on Thompson to Do the Same

Press Release

New poll shows 79% of CD-4 voters want at least one debate between the candidates

SACRAMENTO, CA — Eric Jones, Democratic candidate for California's 4th Congressional District, has accepted an invitation from KCRA to participate in a televised debate and is calling on Congressman Mike Thompson to do the same.

Thompson has not yet responded to the invitation.

“Community forums play a valuable role in this race, and I'm grateful to every organization that has hosted one,” Jones said. “But televised debates are different. They are a chance for voters to see both candidates in real conversation, pressed on the same questions at the same time, without a safety net. I've been asking Mike Thompson to debate since the primary ended. KCRA is offering exactly that opportunity, and there is no excuse to turn it down.”

Jones first challenged Thompson to debate in July, calling for nine in-person debates, one in each county of the newly redrawn district, plus a televised debate. Thompson has not agreed to any of those debates.

Voter demand is clear. A survey of 1,200 likely November 2026 voters in CD-4, conducted by David Binder Research from July 18 to 23, found that 79% want to see at least one debate between the candidates, and 49% want three or more. That demand is consistent across party lines: 51% of Democrats, 47% of Republicans, and 47% of independent voters want at least three debates. Just 6% say they don't want any debates at all.

“The people of this district deserve a representative who will get in a room, take the tough questions, and make the case for what they believe,” Jones said. “I'm willing to do that every day for this district. Mike Thompson seems scared to even do it once.”

KCRA has proposed recording the debate at its Sacramento studio between mid-September and mid-October.

The David Binder Research survey was conducted July 18 to 23, 2026, among 1,200 registered CD-4 voters likely to vote in November 2026, via telephone, text, and email. Margin of error plus or minus 2.8%.

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Voters can sign the petition, demanding Rep. Thompson participate in the debates, here.