Duke Buckner raises questions after SCGOP leaves him off debate stage

WALTERBORO, Sc. (WTOC) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Duke Buckner is asking the South Carolina Republican Party to allow him to participate in Monday night’s televised debate.

Buckner sent an open letter dated Aug. 3 to SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick after learning that he was not among the five candidates invited to the debate.

“I have consistently placed in the top five in recent GOP straw polls,” Buckner said in a statement. “I believe I have earned a spot on the debate stage.”

In his letter, Buckner cited results from three recent Republican events. He said he received 60% of the vote in a July 27 straw poll held by the Edisto GOP, placed third with 18.6% at the Berkeley County GOP breakfast on Aug. 1 and finished fourth with 9.8% at the SCGOP Midlands U.S. Senate candidate event later that day.

Buckner also claimed he has placed among the top five candidates in recent public polling of likely Republican voters.

“Therefore, I am asking to be added to the debate stage,” Buckner wrote. “I am also requesting the polling data that was used to determine the current debate participants and how they came to their conclusion.”

Buckner also states, “I am also requesting the polling data that was used to determine the current debate participants and how they came to their conclusion” in his open letter.

The debate, organized through a partnership between the South Carolina Republican Party and WTOC, will air and stream live from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday on WTOC and Gray Media digital platforms.

It was not immediately clear whether the SCGOP had responded to Buckner’s request.