Candidates Increasingly Opt Out of Debates, Leaving Voters with Less Information

An increasing number of candidates are foregoing debates in crucial midterm elections, a trend that limits voters' exposure to candidates' platforms and their ability to perform under pressure. In this year's midterm elections, 36 governors are up for election, and 21 of those races will not feature a debate between the major party candidates. This includes toss-up races in Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio.

This marks a significant increase from previous election cycles. In 2018, only two gubernatorial races out of 36 had no debates. By 2022, that number had risen to eight out of 36.

The trend is even more pronounced in Senate races. Of the 35 Senate seats up for election in 2026, 21 will have no scheduled debates between the major candidates, including competitive races in Ohio and Texas. In 2024, nine out of 34 Senate races lacked debates, and in 2022, 14 out of 35 Senate races did not feature debates.

Candidates have cited various reasons for declining these events. In Ohio, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton refused to debate Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, stating she did not want to "platform" his "baseless lies." Similarly, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama opted against debating his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, arguing that "there's so much difference between us. I mean, there's no reason to get up there and argue about differences of opinion." Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the Texas Senate, initially agreed to a debate but has since not responded to offers from media outlets to host the event. Paxton also did not participate in debates during his previous runs for office.

In Arizona, Governor Katie Hobbs has declined to participate in a debate for her current race, a decision her campaign stated was because "face-to-face engagement with Arizonans is more effective than a stage designed for short soundbites and political theater." This mirrors her approach in the 2022 election cycle.

Experts suggest that while candidates may seek to avoid gaffes or missteps, their decisions to skip debates deprive voters of valuable insights. Craig Hennigan, a lecturer in communications at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, explained that debates offer voters a chance to see how candidates "react under pressure." While voters may not primarily attend debates to learn about policy specifics, they often incidentally absorb this information, and more importantly, gain an understanding of a candidate's character.

Hennigan noted that the unpredictability of debates can put candidates in vulnerable positions. He advised candidates who do participate to prioritize avoiding mistakes rather than trying to win, especially if they hold a significant lead.