Weeks after Donald Trump and Joe Biden agreed to debate in a media-produced debate, breaking with tradition, the Commission on Presidential Debates has resigned.
CPD has hosted every presidential debate since 1988. But on Monday, the organization announced that it “regrettably” had terminated its contracts for all potential presidential and vice presidential debates scheduled for September and October.
The debates were planned at Texas State University, Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, Virginia State University and the University of Utah. The committee said the schools had been preparing for the candidates since November 2023.
Why did the Biden and Trump campaigns change their debate plans?
The Biden administration previously notified the Chicago Police Department that “President Biden will not consent to any commission-sponsored debates during the 2024 general election campaign.”
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The administration cited several reasons for pulling out of the scheduled debate, including timing.
The CPD had scheduled the debates for September and October, after many voters had already cast their ballots by mail. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns have been critical of the debate dates, arguing they were too close to the general election.
The Future of the Commission on Presidential Debates
The Biden administration sent the notice in May, but the committee maintained its plans with host universities until this week.
In an interview last month with the centrist political group No Labels, Chicago Democratic Party co-chair Frank Fahrenkopf said he was optimistic the candidates would agree to committee debates.
He echoed similar sentiments in a statement this week, saying that “if circumstances change, the Chicago Democratic Party is prepared to sponsor a debate in 2024.”
It remains to be seen what role the committee will play in planning future presidential debates.
For now, viewers can tune in to the “CNN Presidential Debate” on Thursday, June 27 at 9pm ET on CNN or simulcast on USA TODAY.
