The Latest: Debate ends after third-party interruption

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Latest on the debate between Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Del. Kathy Szeliga:

2 p.m.

A taping of a Maryland Senate race debate has ended after an interruption by Green Party candidate Margaret Flowers.

The debate between Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Del. Kathy Szeliga was taped at the University of Baltimore on Wednesday. It will be shown on WJZ-TV at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening.

As the debate was about to start, Flowers took center stage between the candidates, delaying the start for about 10 minutes. She asked why she wasn’t allowed to participate when she has a statewide campaign.

Debate organizers say only candidates polling above 15 percent were allowed to take part.

Van Hollen, a Democrat, and Szeliga, a Republican, debated a variety of issues for an hour. They took questions on gun control, the economy, foreign policy, education and health care.

Van Hollen is a seven-term congressman. Szeliga is the minority whip in the Maryland House of Delegates.

___

12:45 p.m.

Dr. Margaret Flowers, a Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland, has interrupted the start of a debate and asked to be included.

Flowers walked in at the beginning of the debate Wednesday and stood between Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Del. Kathy Szeliga.

She says she has a statewide campaign and couldn’t understand why she wasn’t allowed to participate.

Both Van Hollen and Szeliga said they would agree to her participating.

But Flowers was escorted out by security at the University of Baltimore. She was not allowed to take part.

___

7 a.m.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Del. Kathy Szeliga (shuh-LEG-uh) will be taking part in a televised debate.

The debate between the two candidates for U.S. Senate on WJZ-TV is scheduled for Wednesday.

It’s being sponsored by The Baltimore Sun, the League of Women Voters and the University of Baltimore.

Van Hollen is a seven-term Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Szeliga, a Republican, is the minority whip in the Maryland House of Delegates.

They are running for the seat that is opening up with the retirement of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who is leaving office after 30 years.