SPRINGFIELD — Congressman Richard Neal and progressive challenger Tahirah Amatul-Wadud will participate in two televised debates in the days leading up to the Sept. 4 Democratic primary.

A live, televised debate on WWLP is scheduled for Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

“Congressman Neal is very excited to announce his participation in this debate which allows the most possible voters to hear directly from the candidates,” said Peter Panos, Neal’s campaign manager, in a written statement.

In her own statement, Amatul-Wadud said she has long called for a debate and that Neal had only agreed to do so this week.

“Rep. Neal has announced an August 22, 2018, debate on WWLP, but the format and details have not been confirmed,” she wrote. “I want a vibrant debate where voters are invited, present, and able to engage. I hope to verify that these terms can be met.”

Amatul-Wadud added that the two campaigns have “painstakingly” negotiated a debate with WGBY, on Aug. 30 from 8 to 8:30 p.m., and that she looks forward to attending. Both debates will be available on the stations’ respective websites for later viewing.

The public television debate, which Neal voted is on the only network available in every community of the First Congressional district., is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Amatul-Wadud said Neal has ducked other events, declining an invitation to a town hall forum on Aug. 15 with the Berkshire County Branch of the NAACP and missing a candidates’ forum hosted by the Springfield City Library in Mason Square.

“The dignity of this seat requires a thorough and rigorous debate of the issues, in the spirit of democracy,” she wrote.

Neal has been a U.S. Representative since 1989, initially representing the Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District before redistricting changed his district to the 1st Congressional District in 2013.

Amatul-Wadud, a western Massachusetts-based attorney, is a political newcomer hoping to unseat the nearly 30-year incumbent.

There is no Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat.