The Monday morning town hall meeting held by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) became contentious when King's democratic challenger, Matt Campbell, showed up and pressed the Congressman on public debates.
Matt Campbell asked the four-term incumbent of Iowa's 5th district, King, why he had not responded to Campbell's repeated challenges to a televised debate.
"And my answer to that is that, judging by the fashion that you've conducted yourself, you have not earned it, thank you, next question," King said.
In a video posted by the Sioux City Journal, some audience members broke out in applause while others stood up and said they believed King should debate Campbell. Campbell responded to King, asking him to explain how he has not earned the right to a debate. Campbell said it should be enough he won the Iowa June primary and is the democratic nominee.
King said he gave Campbell his one question and attempted to move on, but did state Campbell has not run a campaign of issues, only attacks on King.
"I have long said I will debate if my opponent develops an issues based campaign," King said later in a statement. "Clearly he has not and his most recent 'fraternity prank' at Western Iowa Tech Community College is conclusive."
"Any discussion in favor of a debate is therefore concluded," King added. "There will be no debate."
The Iowa Democratic Party quickly sent out a release on the events Monday saying King is dodging Campbell.