With the general election less than three weeks away, voters living in Oklahoma Senate District 32 will have a chance to hear from the three candidates on the ballot during a debate in Lawton on Thursday, Oct. 22.

KSWO-TV is sponsoring the debate, which Cameron University will host in the University Theatre, 27th Street and A Avenue. The debate begins at 7 p.m. and will be televised live on all of KSWO's streaming channels - Roku, Firestick and Apple TV - as well as the network's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

The debate itself will not be open to an audience.

On the stage that evening will be Republican Curtis Erwin, Democrat Booker T. Newton and independent candidate Valentin Pena. The winner of the race will be sworn in as a state senator on Nov. 18.

The three are vying for a seat formerly held by Elgin Republican Dusty Deevers, who in 2023 won a special election to finish the term of John Michael Montgomery. In last summer's GOP primary, Deevers lost his bid for a full-term representing District 32.

A lifelong Oklahoman, Erwin is the founding pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Elgin. Before his ministry, he worked at Goodyear in Lawton. Newton, from Lawton, is a retired first sergeant in the U.S. Army with 29 years of service. He currently serves as a facilitator assisting soldiers as they transition back to civilian life. Peña, also from Lawton, is a merchandiser for the Walton Corp.

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