Texas State University will become the first university in Texas to host a presidential debate, with the event scheduled for September 16th.
Texas, USA — This story was originally texas tribune.
Texas State University was scheduled to become the first university in Texas to host a presidential debate, but on Wednesday two presidential candidates announced that they had cheated.
The campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are replanning this year's debate schedule, announcing two new debate dates to be hosted by CNN and ABC News. It is scheduled to be held on June 27th and September 10th.
These debates appear to be a replacement for three previously scheduled fall debates, including one in Texas, organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which usually organizes debates after primaries. . Biden's campaign said in a letter to the committee that Biden would not participate in the debate.
The new Sept. 10 debate, announced by the campaign on Wednesday, is scheduled less than a week after the previously scheduled Sept. 16 debate at Texas State University. It's unclear whether Texas State still has a chance to host. The June debate will be hosted by CNN and will be held in Georgia.
“We are aware of the latest developments surrounding the presidential debate. We are working closely with the Commission on Presidential Debates as we assess the situation,” the university said in a statement Wednesday.
ABC News did not say whether the station would consider hosting a debate in Texas.
Texas expected to spend about $5 million to host the debate. The university has appointed Jack Martin, former chairman of the Texas State University System's Board of Trustees, to lead the debate's fundraising efforts.
Although news organizations often host primary debates, the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates was established in 1987 to provide a neutral forum for candidates in the lead-up to the general election. . The commission said in a statement Wednesday that it chose the dates and locations to “reach the broadest television, radio and streaming audience.”
“The American people deserve a substantive debate between the leading candidates for president and vice president,” the statement said. “Our 2024 venues, all locations of higher education, are ready to host debates on dates chosen to accommodate early voters. We continue to execute on this plan. I'll make preparations.”
The Washington Post reported that the Trump and Biden campaigns were in talks to schedule an additional debate that would not involve the committee.
Although the two men publicly agreed on dates in June and September, President Trump told Biden that he wanted to “get the most knowledge of each candidate's record and vision for the future” early in the cycle (June and September). They requested that additional debates be held in July, August, and September. In response to a memo released by the Trump campaign.
In a letter to the committee, the Biden campaign said the committee's debate format no longer corresponds to current voting trends after early voting began in many states. He also said the commission failed to enforce its own rules during the 2020 debate.
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