Keith Self Says ‘This Is My Seat’ as Evan Hunt Pushes for Debate

Rep. Keith Self twice referred to the congressional office as “my seat” Friday when asked about Democratic challenger Evan Hunt’s call for a debate. The Republican congressman told NewsNation that no “viable organization” had proposed a forum but did not clearly commit to participating.

Hunt had a response of his own: “No member of Congress owns their seat. It belongs to the voters, and anyone who wants to keep it should have to stand on a stage and earn it.”

The candidates appeared separately on NewsNation’s Morning in America at the State Fair of Texas, where the host played Hunt’s debate challenge for Self.

‘Step into the arena, Keith’

At the end of Hunt’s interview, the host asked what he wanted NewsNation to ask Self.

“I would ask you to ask him if he’s gonna debate me, because I’ve been calling for a debate for over a year,” Hunt said. “I’ve sent a letter to his office. We talked to his staff.”

Hunt said he attended candidate forums and accused Self of refusing to show up.

“I respect Keith Self’s service,” he said. “But I really don’t agree with him on nearly anything else.”

Hunt called Self a “rubber stamp in Congress for the president” and accused him of failing to fight for district residents.

NewsNation played those remarks for Self later in the program.

“No one, no organization has said, ‘Let’s have a debate,’” Self responded.

“This is my seat. I’m going to win it.”

He returned to that point moments later: “I think this is my seat. I’m gonna win it.”

Self said a “viable organization” would need to propose a forum but did not explain which organizations would qualify. When the interviewer suggested he would participate if invited, Self did not confirm that he would.

Afterward, Hunt wrote on Facebook: “Keith Self has dodged a debate with me for over a year, so it’s time to step into the arena, Keith.”

A different general election

Self’s confidence about keeping the seat came with an acknowledgment that this year was different.

“Normally my race is in the primary,” he said. “But this year, I’m running a strong general race just to make sure that we take care of this.”

Asked what had changed, he pointed to the mood of voters.

“I’m really not running against my opponent. I’m running against a general environment, because there’s unease out there,” Self said. “People are unsettled.”

He named gas prices, groceries and the war in Iran.

“But just the general idea that things are bad now, we’ve kind of forgotten how bad they were just several years ago,” Self said.

Hunt, interviewed earlier, saw an opening.

“Republicans in Texas have been in power for so long,” Hunt said. “It’s really hard for them to blame problems on anybody else.”

“And they feel entitled to the votes of Texans,” he added. “I think they may be disappointed.”

Hunt said both parties had disappointed Americans, pointing to big money, special interests and a focus on culture wars.

“People are ready for politicians to put the government back to work for them again,” he said.

Two answers on affordability

Self said Republicans needed more time to address costs.

“We’ve only been at this for 20 months, and it takes a while to fix things like inflation,” he said.

Asked what his party was doing wrong, Self answered: “We’re not telling our story.”

He cited inflation, tax benefits, spending reductions and border enforcement as successes Republicans needed to explain to voters.

Hunt blamed the administration’s war and tariff policies for driving up costs.

“Part of this is really about electing people who will stand up to Donald Trump, electing people who will say no,” he said, pointing to Congress’s spending and war powers.

On healthcare, Hunt said: “We all know we’re kind of one medical emergency or cancer diagnosis away from bankruptcy. And that’s unacceptable. It’s a management failure. It’s a moral failure.”

He called for a better healthcare system but offered no specific legislative proposal in the interview.

Self defends his influence

Hunt called for lawmakers willing to say no to Trump. Self said he pushes the administration toward more conservative legislation.

“The president calls us the 3 a.m. crowd,” Self said, explaining that “we are the ones that push all of the bills toward the America first agenda.”

“We want to move everything to more conservatism,” he said.

The candidates will face each other on the Nov. 3 ballot, but the interviews ended without an agreement to debate.

TX3DNews contacted Self’s office for comment and will update this article if a response is received.