The lead-up to Election Day has often come with a time-honored tradition: the debate.
However, with the race for control of the Senate as close as ever this cycle, debates in down-ballot races have become rare or absent, even in some of this year’s most competitive contests.
According to an analysis by the Washington Examiner, less than 40% of Senate races across the country will feature a general election debate ahead of November. While it is still early, and there are several contests where discussions are ongoing between candidates, control of the upper chamber could be decided in races where voters had little or no opportunity to see the candidates face off.
Control of the Senate is as close as ever, with only a handful of races likely to determine the majority this November. With eight weeks until the election, Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and his Republican challenger, Bernie Moreno, have not yet agreed to a debate, in one of the most closely watched races in the country.
However, sources indicate there are discussions ongoing. In other tight races, like Montana, only one debate has taken place between Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and GOP candidate, Tim Sheehy.
The dwindling number of Senate debates isn’t surprising, considering debate dodging is taking place at the highest level, with former President Trump announcing Thursday that he would not take part in another 2024 presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The diminishing frequency of debates was foreshadowed earlier this year when the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has planned presidential faceoffs in every election since 1988, was cast aside when President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump struck an agreement to meet on their own.
The trend began to appear in 2016 when former President Donald Trump refused to participate in primary debates, showing a candidate could win even while refusing to appear on the debate stage. Others followed his lead, with even the Republican National Committee passing a resolution in 2022 attempting to prohibit its 2024 presidential candidates from working with what it claims is the “biased” Commission on Presidential Debates.
The change reflects a divided political landscape that experts and insiders believe often can dissuade campaigns away from debates, citing a complicated cost-benefit analysis.
“In some cases, like for Trump, I think it’s right that he doesn’t participate in another debate, the costs just outweigh the risks,” said a Republican strategist, who asked to speak anonymously to reflect candidly on the situation. “I think the American people deserve to hear from candidates running in races from presidential to down-ballot, but there’s a lack of civility today that makes things difficult.”
“Unfortunately, the insults and misinformation often are what you get from debates instead of the substantial policy discussions of yesteryear,” the person added.
Debate negotiations in races across the country have, at times, become controversial and dramatic. While Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) had said he’d advise Trump to do “as many debates as possible” against Harris; he wasn’t ready to commit to a debate of his own against Democratic opponent, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL).
“I’m traveling the state, and I’ll continue to travel the state, and we will see what happens,” Scott said in response to a question from the Washington Examiner asking if he’d participate in a debate. “She should start traveling the state a little bit; she certainly knows Miami.”
Mucarsel-Powell, who launched a 75-stop tour across the state two weeks ago, has been working to secure a debate with Scott. Her campaign said she’s open to debates on WPBF in West Palm Beach, WFLA in Tampa, and WJXT in Jacksonville
“Floridians deserve a senator who will show up and answer for their record — something that Rick Scott is terrified to do,” said Mucarsel-Powell, in a statement sent to the Washington Examiner. “Scared Scott knows he won’t be able to defend 14 years of failure and an extreme agenda on the debate stage in front of the millions of Floridians who continue to suffer under his dangerous policies.”
In another competitive race in Texas, there has yet to be a debate scheduled between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX). On the way to a Senate vote on Thursday, the Texas Senator said he “most certainly hopes a debate is scheduled soon.” Allred had a similar response.
“I’m ready to debate, obviously it’s going to be up to Senator Cruz as to what he wants to do – and I think it’s important for Texans to see,” Allred said speaking to WFAA.
In Arizona, there’s been controversy after some Republicans sounded the alarm after a nonpartisan election commission excluded the Green Party’s Senate candidate from participating in an upcoming debate, calling the decision illegal.
Separately, in Maryland, there was a time when former Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) and Prince George County Executive Angela Alsobrooks were deadlocked over when and where to debate this fall. A debate was finally agreed to after the two campaigns spent months accusing one other of attempting to dodge the debate stage.
The number of debates in competitive U.S. Senate races declined steadily from 2010 to 2022, according to a Brookings Institution analysis. So far, there are 20 debates scheduled in 13 of the 33 Senate races this year.
Here’s a list of Senate debates this cycle that have already been scheduled:
Arizona
A debate between Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Republican Kari Lake will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Arizona Clean Elections and Arizona Media Association are hosting the debate.
Montana
Sen. Jon Tester and Republican Tim Sheehy participated in a televised debate on June 9 that was hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association. There is no other debate on the books at this time.
Ohio
Neither Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) nor Republican Bernie Moreno have committed to a debate at this time.
Nevada
A local TV station will host a debate between Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Republican Sam Brown on Oct. 17.
Michigan
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) will face off in two televised debates. WOOD-TV 8 in Grand Rapids will host the first one on Oct. 8. There is a second debate to be held at WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit on Oct. 14
Pennsylvania
There will be three televised debates between Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Republican Dave McCormick. They will debate on Oct. 3 debate in Harrisburg, hosted by ABC27 Nexstar. A second was scheduled on Oct. 15 in Philadelphia, hosted by 6ABC. A third is expected to be in Pittsburgh, hosted by WPXI, but a date hasn’t been set yet.
Wisconsin
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Republican Eric Hovde will debate on Oct. 18 at 7 PM, hosted by WMTV-TV in Madison.
Maryland
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will face off against Republican Larry Hogan on Oct. 23 in a debate hosted by Maryland Public Television, WBAL-TV, and WRC-TV/WZDC-TV that will be moderated by NBC News’s Chuck Todd.
Texas
There is not yet a debate scheduled between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Collin Allred (D-TX)
Florida
Sen. Rick Scott (R-TX) and former Rep. Debbie Murcarsel-Powell (D-FL) have not agreed to a debate yet. Mucarsel-Powell has said she already agreed to three statewide televised debates.
Virginia
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Republican Hung Cao will have a televised faceoff on Oct. 2 at Norfolk State University.
California
No general election debate has been set between Democrat Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey.
Connecticut
No general election debate had been set between Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Republican Matthew Corey.
Delaware
A debate between Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Republican Eric Hansen has been set for Oct. 16, hosted by The University of Delaware Center for Political Communication and Delaware Public Media.
Hawaii
No general election debate has been set between Sen. Maizie Hirono (D-HI) and challenger Republican Bob McDermott.
Massachusetts
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is expected to debate Republican John Deaton in two debates in October. One will be in Boston, sponsored by The Boston Globe and WBZ. The will take place in Springfield and be sponsored by GBH and New England Public Media.
Maine
There are no general election debates scheduled, although there are calls for incumbent Sen. Angus King (I-ME) to debate his three general election opponents Democrat David Costello, Republican Demi Kouzounas and independent Jason Cherry.
Minnesota
No general election debate has been set between Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Republican challenger Royce White. Ahead of the primary, the candidates all participated in an agricultural forum.
New Jersey
There will be three debates between Democrat Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Republican Curtis Bashaw. The first will take place Oct. 6 and it will be hosted by the New Jersey Globe, The Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, and On New Jersey. The second on Oct. 15 will be hosted by NJ Spotlight News at NJ PBS. The third will be on Oct. 22 and hosted by News 12.
New Mexico
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) has agreed to debate Republican Nella Domenici in October. One is expected to be sponsored by the Congregation Albert Brotherhood and another sponsored by KOAT, the Albuquerque Journal and NewsRadio KKOB.
New York
No general election debate has been set between Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Republican Mike Sapraicone.
Rhode Island
No debate has been set yet for Sen. Sheldon WhiteHouse (D-RI) and Republican state Rep. Patricia Morgan, but discussions continue.
Vermont
No debate has been set yet between Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Republican Gerald Malloy.
West Virginia
There is no debate set between Jim Justice, the two-term GOP governor of West Virginia, and Democrat Glenn Elliott.
Indiana
There is no debate set between Rep. Jim Banks and Democrat Valerie McCray or Libertarian Andrew Horning.
Missouri
There is no set debate between Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Democrat Lucas Kunce.
Mississippi
There is no set debate between Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Democrat Ty Pinkins.
North Dakota
A debate between Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Democrat Katrina Christiansen will take place on Oct. 2, hosted by Prairie Public.
Nebraska
There is no scheduled debate between Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Independent Dan Osborn. There is also no scheduled debate in the special election between Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Democratic challenger Preston Love Jr.
Tennessee
There is no scheduled debate between Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Democratic challenger Gloria Johnson.
Utah
There is not a scheduled debate between Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and Democrat Caroline Gleich. However, there is a candidate forum on Oct. 14, hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber.
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Wyoming
There is not a scheduled debate between Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Democrat Scott Morrow.
