Governor Andrew Cuomo (left) and his Republican challenger Rob Astorino.

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Republican opponent in this year’s election says the governor should debate him several times in in the weeks building up to Election day.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino says the governor owes it to voters to debate him on the issues. According to the Astorino Campaign, it is especially important that several debates take place, based on his claims that New York has the highest taxes in America, the worst economic outlook, and its state government ranks as the most corrupt in the nation.

Astorino’s campaign says the governor should debate the Republican challenger a total of eight times, with each debate taking place in a different region of the station. The governor has said that he would look into scheduling a debate with Astorino, but so far has not committed to a specific time or location.

Astorino is one of several candidates running against Cuomo in this year’s election. Others include Howie Hawkins (Green Party), Michael McDermott (Libertarian Party), Jimmy McMillan (Rent is Too Damn High Party), Steve Cohn (Sapient Party) and Michael Carey (Life & Liberty Party).  Election Day is Nov. 4.