Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo and her Republican challenger, state Rep. Gabe Evans, have agreed to debate twice in October, but Evans says he wants to face off against the incumbent at least two more times before ballots are due in Colorado’s most competitive congressional race.

Caraveo, who is seeking a second term representing the closely divided 8th Congressional District, confirmed on Thursday that she and Evans are set to participate in two televised debates — on 9News on Oct. 8, just days before ballots go in the mail, and on Oct. 19 on CBS Colorado.

Evans, however, said that two half-hour debates aren’t enough to explore the disagreements between the two candidates in a race that could decide which party wins the House majority. Last month, Evans’ campaign announced that he’s accepted invitations to four debates and challenged Caraveo to do the same.

For her part, Caraveo’s campaign on Thursday pitched the two debates she’s scheduled as “doubling” the number of times the district’s nominees will meet, compared to the single debate that featured Caraveo and her 2022 Republicans opponent, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer.

“Congresswoman Caraveo is eager to speak about her bipartisan record delivering results for Coloradans during the most unproductive Congress led by extremists like Mike Johnson and Trump,” said Mary Alice Blackstock, Caraveo’s campaign manager, in a release, citing the Republican House speaker and GOP presidential nominee, both of whom have endorsed Evans.

Added Blackstock: “As a firm believer of democracy — unlike Gabe Evans, who has cast doubt to affirm the legitimacy of our elections — Congresswoman Caraveo is looking forward to these debates and this election cycle.”

Evans said in a statement that he’s accepted two additional debate invitations, from Fox31 and Colorado Politics.

“Voters deserve better,” he said. “There are tremendous differences between Yadira Caraveo and me on crime, the border, jobs, and the cost of living. As candidates for Congress, we owe it to the voters to articulate and explain our positions on these and other important issues.”

Caraveo edged past Kirkmeyer two years ago in the state’s newest congressional seat by one of the closest margins in the country, winning by just over 1,600 votes, or less than 1 percentage point. The district, created after the 2020 census, stretches up the Front Range from Adams County suburbs north of Denver to Greeley.

Mail ballots start going out to most Colorado voters on Oct. 11 and are due back to county clerks by 7 p.m. Nov. 5.