UMW cancels Tuesday’s 7th District debate after Ollivant drops off a slate Vindman never joined

The University of Mary Washington cancelled the public 7th Congressional District debate that was set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Dodd Auditorium. UMW said Monday evening it had learned Republican candidate Doug Ollivant was no longer available on the rescheduled date. With candidates from both major parties unavailable, the school said the event could not go forward in the format it had planned. The university first advertised the debate for Tuesday, Sept. 15. It moved the date to Tuesday, Sept. 22, after the original night did not hold. The program on both dates was built around the three challengers who had accepted: Ollivant, independent Alaha Ahrar and Libertarian Taner Lopez. Democratic incumbent Eugene Vindman was not on the slate. Potomac Local reported that fact on Sept. 7, when UMW first posted the Sept. 15 card. Vindman was already sitting the forum out. He did not drop Tuesday’s date this week. He was never scheduled to stand on that stage. UMW’s cancellation notice does not name a medical reason. Ollivant did, three days earlier. On Friday he posted that the prior week had been “challenging,” citing “an unforeseen medical issue and a serious reaction to an antibiotic I was prescribed.” He said he was recovering, receiving care, and that the campaign would continue. He did not mention the UMW debate in that post. The debate was to be hosted by UMW’s Student Government Association and co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area and The Free Lance-Star. UMW Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman was listed as moderator. The event was free, required no ticket, and was also to be offered on Zoom. UMW has not announced a makeup date. A public search Monday evening did not turn up another scheduled Vindman–Ollivant debate on the general-election calendar. Early voting in Virginia is already open through Oct. 31. Election Day is Nov. 3.