Commission on Presidential Debates Cancels Planned Debates, Including One at Texas State University

Weeks after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump criticized the Commission on Presidential Debates, the organization canceled its planned debates for the general election, including one at Texas State University.

We are grateful to the sites, and we are sorry to come to this decision. We are dismayed that students of the four campuses will not have the opportunity to participate in these historic voter education forums. — Commission co-chairs Antonia Hernández and Frank Fahrenkopf

Texas State University was set to be the first in Texas to host a presidential debate, planning to spend $5 million on the event. The university paid a $2.7 million site fee to the commission, with an agreement for a refund in the event of cancellation. It is unclear how much of this fee will be reimbursed.

While receiving this official news is disappointing, we understand the CPD’s position. As the only Texas university to have graduated a U.S. president, we were excited to host the first-ever presidential debate in our great state. — Texas State President Kelly Damphousse

The commission, a nonpartisan organization established in 1987, cited grievances from both campaigns related to the 2020 election and the timing of the debates as reasons for the cancelation. Both candidates have agreed to participate in alternate debates hosted by CNN and ABC.

The commission expressed willingness to produce the debates if the campaigns reconsider, but candidates are not mandated to participate in commission-sponsored events. Texas State University affirmed its commitment to supporting students' political engagement.