WASHINGTON — The Democratic and Republican candidates for president would debate three times next year if both candidates agree to a schedule released Monday by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.
“The general election debates in the United States, watched live around the world, are a model for many other countries: the opportunity to hear and see leading candidates address serious issues in a fair and neutral environment,” said co-chairs Frank Fahrenkopf and Antonia Hernández a written statement. “This tradition has been unbroken since 1976.”
The first presidential debate is scheduled for September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
A debate followed on October 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. And a third presidential debate would take place on October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
The vice presidential candidates’ debate is scheduled to take place on September 25 at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
The debate at Virginia State University would be the first presidential debate hosted by a historically black college or university.
The Democratic nominee will likely be President Joe Biden, and currently former President Donald Trump is leading the GOP polls despite having multiple challengers.
Trump did not attend any of the Republican primary debates and instead often held rallies.
It was not immediately clear Monday whether any of the presidential candidates had committed to taking part in the debates.
The Republican National Committee is barred from participating in the debates after Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said last year that the national party had withdrawn from participation.
“Debates are an important part of the democratic process, and the RNC is committed to free and fair debates,” McDaniel said in April 2022. “The Commission on Presidential Debates is biased and has refused to make simple and common-sense reforms to ensure fair debates “Debates, including hosting debates before voting begins and selecting moderators who have never worked for candidates on the debate stage.”
The Democratic National Committee and Biden’s campaign have also not publicly said they will attend the debates.
