State of the race

We are two weeks out from the 8th Congressional District special election.

There has been one forum and a second, sponsored by the Cape County Tea Party, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Republican Jason Smith, Democrat Steve Hodges, Libertarian Bill Slantz and the Constitution Party candidate Doug Enyart will all participate, as will two write-in candidates.

The Southeast Missourian, KFVS12 and Southeast Missouri State University will host a debate at 6:30 p.m. May 28 in the Shuck Recital Hall at the River Campus. The four candidates listed on the ballot will participate. Southeast Missourian editor and editorial board member Bob Miller along with KFVS12 anchor Jeff Cunningham will serve as panelists. Moderating the debate will be Southeast professor emeritus Dr. Tom Harte.

Tickets for the debate were distributed equally to the candidates, and the debate will be streamed online at semissourian.com and broadcast on KFVS12.

If you haven't made your decision on which candidate to support, the forum and debate will serve as opportunities to better understand the candidates' positions and how they would represent the district in Congress.

The voter registration deadline for the special election has passed. Requests for mail in or faxed absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk by 5 p.m. May 29. Absentee ballots may be cast at the clerk's office until 5 p.m. June 3.

This is an important race and one of only a few congressional contests held this year. We hope you strongly consider the candidates and vote on June 4.