Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., said he misspoke during a Tuesday night debate when he suggested that minority employees in his office do a good job despite their race or ethnicity.

“We want everybody to have a chance in Indiana and in America, and my offices reflect that, both in the campaign side and on the Senate side,” Donnelly said when asked about diversity. "Our state director is Indian-American, but he does an amazing job. Our director of all constituent services, she's African-American, but she does an even more incredible job than you can ever imagine."

Donnelly apologized Wednesday, according to CNN, saying he used the wrong word.

"I misspoke," Donnelly said in a Wednesday statement. "I meant to say 'and' instead of 'but.' That would have communicated what I have tried to do my entire life: that I make a habit to seek out and promote people of color for both my campaign and official staff."

Donnelly faces Republican challenger Mike Braun and independent candidate Lucy Brenton in the 2018 midterm elections next week.