AUSTIN (AP) - The top candidates for the Republican nomination to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will debate in Austin at the Texas Association of Business annual conference.

The group invited Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and former ESPN football analyst Craig James to participate. The forum will be moderated by the association’s president and CEO, Bill Hammond.

The four men are the top candidates among 10 people running to replace Hutchison, who is retiring at the end this year.

Most of the competition between the candidates has focused on their level of conservatism and experience. The campaign is lasting longer than planned because of a dispute over Texas’ political maps, and a date has not been confirmed for the primary.

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