Happy Thursday! Consider what could go right over obsessing over what could go wrong.

☀️ Today's weather: High near 84 and strong chance of thunderstorms. More on that below.

🎵 Sounds like: "October Song"

🎉 Happy birthday to our Axios Dallas member Kimberly Walton!

Today's newsletter is 943 gloomy words — a 3.5-minute read.

Debates in political campaigns used to be a given. Today, candidates increasingly view them as optional — or a political liability to be avoided.

Why it matters: In a midterm cycle dominated by unprecedented spending on contrast ads, the candidates themselves are remarkably reluctant to challenge each other face-to-face.

• Campaigns have evolved, and norms have changed.

State of play: Neither of Texas' two major statewide races has a debate scheduled.

• Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has accepted invitations to four televised U.S. Senate debates. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has said he'll debate Talarico but hasn't committed to any of the proposed events.
• Last week, Talarico challenged Paxton to debate on Fox News, which he called "Ken Paxton's safe space."
• Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who debated Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke in 2022, hasn't agreed to debate Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa this year. His campaign hasn't publicly explained why.

Yes, but: Railroad commissioner candidates Republican Bo French and Democrat Jon Rosenthal have agreed to debate on Oct. 22 at the Dallas Press Club, which will be live streamed, Rosenthal said.

Zoom out: Texas isn't alone. In 10 of the most closely watched races for governor, there are no agreed-upon debates between the major-party nominees in half of them — Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Texas, according to an Axios review.

• Four years ago, just two of those 10 gubernatorial contests went without a debate.
• In 10 tight Senate races this year, there are no debates scheduled in three states — North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. That's up from one debate-free race in the same seats last time around.

What they're saying: The decline of debates reflects a changing campaign and media landscape, veteran GOP debate-prep consultant Brett O'Donnell says, pointing to increased campaign spending, social media and audiences accustomed to "15 seconds online."

• "How many people will actually watch an hour-long debate?" he said.

Zoom in: Some candidates are still meeting face-to-face locally. Frisco mayoral candidates Rod Vilhauer and Mark Hill debated before their June runoff, sharing their takes on the city's diversity, tourism and growth.

• Hill won the election.

The Dallas Wings have one more shot at advancing to the second round of the WNBA playoffs.

The latest: The Wings had several tense and clutch moments last night in Game 2 of their best-of-three playoff series against the Golden State Valkyries.

• Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale shot a game-tying 3-pointer with just seconds left in regulation.
• The Wings won 108-100 after overtime.

Fun fact: Ogunbowale scored 45 points, setting a new WNBA record for the athlete with the most points scored in a playoff game.

• Earlier in the day, the WNBA announced Wings forward Jessica Shepard as the winner of the league's most improved player award.

What they're saying: "I don't know, I guess I like when the time is going down," Ogunbowale told ESPN after the game.

What's next: Game 3 is tomorrow in San Francisco.

Temperatures today may feel like fall, but a flood watch is in effect until 7am tomorrow.

Why it matters: North Texas was abnormally dry in August and most of September.

State of play: DFW Airport recorded only .01 inch of rain Sept. 1-29 in a month that normally sees 2.64 inches.

• The National Weather Service says North Texas could get 1-2 inches of rain today. Wind gusts could be as high as 20 mph.

Be smart: Don't drive through standing water because it could be deeper than it appears.

What's next: Temperatures this weekend are forecast to be cooler than the recent heat. Highs are forecast to be in the upper 70s or low 80s.

• Overnight lows are forecast to be in the upper 50s and 60s.

🏈 The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly acquiring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for future draft picks. (ESPN)

🛍️ Neiman Marcus' flagship store in downtown Dallas has closed. The store had been open since 1914. (WFAA)

🪥 The Texas comptroller's office is reviewing the costs and health impacts of public water fluoridation, a longstanding public health practice. (DMN)

🪑 TSA is removing chairs from airport checkpoints to keep its officers more alert. A union representing over 40,000 workers says it wasn't consulted about the change. (NBC5)

🤠 The state directly north of us might finally get its first Buc-ee's. (FOX4)

🛍️ Pop some tags. Buy, sell or swap clothing or accessories at Swap & Shop. The event includes giveaways and local food vendors.

• 2-8pm Saturday at Halperin Park. Free admission but register in advance.

🎃 Dig in. Carve pumpkins, guess the size of a Big Mac pumpkin and participate in a pie eating contest at Dallas' Original Pumpkin Day.

• 9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday at the Dallas Farmers Market. Free admission.

🍻 Cheers away your fears. This year's Frisco Oktoberfest includes a Dachshund Dash, competitive stein-hoisting, brat eating and keg rolling.

• 11am-9pm Saturday at The Star in Frisco. Free admission.

💃 Take a beat. Enjoy mariachi, dance to Latin music and shop from Latin-owned businesses at the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Latinidad Festival.

• 6-10pm Saturday at Strauss Square in Dallas. Free, but RSVP required.

This newsletter was edited by Bob Gee.

Our picks:

👀 Naheed is reading Dallas residents' stories about the Neiman Marcus flagship.

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