SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Bruce Braley’s campaign aides say the Democratic congressman hopes to be back from Washington for the final debate with Republican Joni Ernst in Iowa’s neck-and-neck U.S. Senate race.

Braley was attending the House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee hearing on the Ebola virus. Braley is a member of the subcommittee. Deadlocked in recent polls, the candidates plan to debate at 7 p.m. Thursday at Morningside College in Sioux City.

Ernst had no campaign events planned Thursday. Ernst reports having three times as much campaign money on hand as Braley, though the congressman has recently erased the gap Ernst held in September.

The seat is open this fall because five-term Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin is not seeking re-election.