Instead of attending SDPB gubernatorial debate, Gov. Kristi Noem will host veterans fundraiser

At the same time Rep. Jamie Smith and Libertarian Tracey Quint will be sitting down for the South Dakota Public Broadcasting gubernatorial debate Monday night, Gov. Kristi Noem, who refused to attend the debate, will be hosting a veterans fundraiser at the Military Heritage Alliance Center in Sioux Falls instead.

The event, "Salute to Veterans," hosted by Noem with a free dinner for up to 600 veterans and their families courtesy of Kristi for Governor, will start at 6:15 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., according to Ian Fury, the media contact for Noem's reelection campaign. The event is free.

Johnny "Joey" Jones, a retired staff sergeant in the Marines who was wounded in Afghanistan and serves as a FOX News Channel contributor, will be a special guest during the event.

More:Gov. Kristi Noem agrees to only one debate with Jamie Smith ahead of November 2022 election

There will be a live and silent auction fundraiser during the event, according to Fury. Proceeds will go toward the Alliance Center and other veteran's organizations.

Noem's campaign announced in July that she would not attend the SDPB debate.

"Gov. Noem has participated in this debate in the past, but SDPB’s extreme leftward swing precludes the possibility of a fair debate,” Fury stated at the time.

In the past, other former governors running for reelection such as Dennis Daugaard and Mike Rounds offered their competition multiple debate chances.

Noem participated in one debate on Sept. 30 with Smith and Quint.

More:What we learned from the South Dakota gubernatorial debate

Election Day is Nov. 8. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 24.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Gov. Noem will host veterans fundraiser instead of going to SDPB debate