Former Republican Governor Paul LePage says he’ll appear in two debates against Democratic State Auditor Matt Dunlap in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District race.

Dunlap had challenged LePage to four debates last week, and had accepted two invitations that LePage has now agreed to.

The two will face off on October 1st on WMTW TV in Portland, and on October 15th on both WABI TV in Bangor and WAGM TV in Presque Isle.

Dunlap and LePage are vying to replace Democratic U.S. Representative Jared Golden, who is not seeking reelection.

Dunlap criticized LePage for not holding town halls and declining the Maine Medical Association candidate forum.

In a statement Monday, a Lepage spokesperson said, “Governor LePage looks forward to debating Matt Dunlap who failed the auditor exam multiple times, was forced to leave office, and who let welfare fraud perpetuate on his watch.”

Dunlap stepped down as state auditor in 2021 after failing to pass two accounting tests, and returned to the post in 2022 after passing the exam.