McGuire Hides from Debating Perriello by Wasting $25k on Nose Bleed Seats at MAGA Rally in Dallas

Perriello Debates Empty Chair, as McGuire Leaves Local Seniors in the Lurch 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Tom Perriello stood before a packed house of Fifth District voters at the Senior Statesmen of Virginia's Candidate Forum in Charlottesville Tuesday. At the same time, Rep. John McGuire was far away in Dallas, livestreaming himself at a partisan pay-to-play event that required Members of Congress to pony up at least $25,000 just to be in the audience.

For decades, the Senior Statesmen Forum has been a local tradition for launching the general election debate, but Rep. McGuire ignored a dozen invitations to participate. His chair sat empty for the duration of the event.

"This is just pitiful. Congressman McGuire is so scared of facing local seniors that he would rather burn $25,000 for nose bleed seats in Texas than take a few questions from the people he is paid to represent," said Perriello. "This race is about asking the people of this district to hire us, but McGuire can’t even show up for the job interview?” 

McGuire has refused to accept any public debates in the district, and he has refused to hold a single public town hall. 

“Folks of every political stripe are fed up with McGuire caring more about his ticket to the next Trump rally than whether he can show his face around here,” said Perriello. “He stopped working for the people of this district a long time ago, and his travel priorities show that.”

The contrast on Tuesday could not have been starker. Perriello was on the ground in the district, taking unscripted questions from Fifth District voters and earning a standing ovation. McGuire was out of state, livestreaming himself paying $25,000 to attend cheerleader tryouts in Texas.