The scheduled debate between Democratic state Rep. Brandon Dukes, D-12th, and Republican challenger Scott Timko, has been canceled.

The debate was to be held Thursday evening, Oct. 15, at the Succop Theater on BC3’s campus. Both candidates had agreed to the event, hosted by the Butler Eagle, Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Armstrong.

“The Butler Eagle was disappointed to learn that the debate isn’t going to happen as planned,” publisher Tammy Schuey said Tuesday. “We know that community forums like the one planned for Thursday can be vital to informing voters.”

She encouraged Butler County residents to check out the newsroom’s preview coverage ahead of Election Day.

Dukes and Timko are facing off in a rematch for Pennsylvania’s 12th state House District, which includes Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships; and the boroughs of Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Valencia and Zelienople.

Dukes beat Timko by less than 100 votes in an August special election to fill the remainder of the term of former state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, which concludes at the end of the year. The two candidates are now running for a full, two-year term.