Rep. Beto O'Rourke has invited Sen. Ted Cruz to participate six debates — with two of them in Spanish.
But a verbal slugfest en Español is likely not in the cards because Cruz is not known as proficient in Spanish.
The Texas Tribune reports that a campaign event on Tuesday, Cruz told reporters his Spanish "remains lousy."
"A debate in Spanish would not be very good because my Spanish isn't good enough, but I look forward to debating Congressman O'Rourke," Cruz said.
Cruz, whose preacher father Rafael Cruz came to America from Cuba, said his subpar Spanish skills are "the curse" of being a "second-generation immigrant."
O'Rourke, who is attempting to unseat Cruz, the junior U.S. senator from Texas since 2013, made the debate proposal to Cruz's staff in a letter from his campaign manager.
Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier responded: "We are considering all possibilities in front of us and will be working with potential hosts and the O'Rourke campaign to determine the best platforms available …"