With the primary elections concluded, the race for Texas’ 3rd Congressional District is officially set. Republican incumbent Keith Self will face Democratic nominee Evan Hunt in the November general election. Hunt has already pushed for a public debate between the two candidates and says he invited Self to take part in a town hall discussion scheduled for March 11 in McKinney.

Debate Proposal

During a campaign appearance in February, Hunt said the location for the event had already been reserved.“We set a town hall date for March 11 and booked a sanctuary in McKinney that can seat about 250 people,” Hunt explained.According to Hunt, the event is meant to be an open conversation with voters rather than a scripted campaign debate.“There won’t be a prepared list of questions,” he said.

Hunt also noted that James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay, hosts of the McKinney Podcast, were expected to moderate the discussion.

Invitation Delivered

After securing the Democratic nomination in the primary, Hunt said he visited Self’s district office in Collin County to personally congratulate the congressman and deliver a formal invitation to the event. Self was not at the office at the time, but staff members told Hunt the letter would be forwarded to him. In the invitation, Hunt wrote that voters in Texas’ 3rd District deserve “an open and honest conversation about the future of our community and country.”

He said the town hall would allow residents to directly question both candidates and hear their views on key issues such as the economy, healthcare, education, and national security.

Scheduling Questions

Shortly after the proposal was announced, McKinney Podcast host James Jenkins told TX3DNews that scheduling could be challenging if Congress remained in session. However, the U.S. House legislative calendar now lists that week as a district work period, when lawmakers typically return home to meet with constituents. Hunt later repeated the invitation on social media while also commenting on international developments.

“As much as I’d like Rep. Keith Self to join the town hall on March 11, Congress probably shouldn’t be on recess right now,” Hunt wrote. “If the United States is carrying out military strikes in the Middle East, Congress should be in Washington doing its job.”

He added that if Self is in the district during the work period, he would welcome his participation in the debate.

Different Town Hall Formats

Since taking office, Rep. Self has held several town hall-style meetings in the district. These events typically involve smaller audiences and a more structured format where attendees submit questions in advance. Hunt’s proposed event would take a different approach. Organizers say it would allow audience members to ask questions directly, with attendees registering at the door before entering.

Campaign Activity

Self has attended several campaign events across the district since launching his reelection effort, including appearances with Collin County Judge Chris Hill and state House candidate Keresa Richardson.

During the same period, a number of candidate forums were organized in Collin County — including events at Epic City, the West Plano Islamic Center, and a McKinney PTA forum — where organizers said all candidates were invited. Self and his campaign did not attend those events. Participation in such forums is typically optional, and candidates often choose whether to attend based on scheduling and campaign strategy.

What Happens Next

According to Hunt’s campaign, the March 11 town hall in McKinney will proceed whether or not Self participates. As of now, Rep. Self has not publicly responded to the invitation.

If he does accept, the event could mark one of the first opportunities in this election cycle for voters to hear both candidates discuss their positions in the same forum ahead of the November vote.