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2024 Texas Elections

Biden, Trump sidestep traditional presidential debate schedule that included Texas State University

Texas State was slated to be the first Texas university to host a presidential debate, with an event scheduled Sept. 16.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participated in their second 2020 presidential campaign debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee on Oct. 22, 2020.
Credit: REUTERS/Mike Segar

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WASHINGTON — Texas State University was set to be the first university in Texas to host a presidential debate, but on Wednesday the two candidates for president announced they’re going rogue.

The campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are remixing their plans for this year’s debate schedule, announcing two new debate dates hosted by CNN and ABC News. They are slated to take place on June 27 and Sept. 10.

Those debates appear to be in lieu of three previously scheduled fall debates — one of which is slated for Texas State — arranged by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which usually organizes debates after the primaries. Biden's campaign said in a letter to the Commission that he plans not to partake in its debates.

The new Sept. 10 debate announced by the campaigns on Wednesday is scheduled less than a week before the previously scheduled Sept. 16 debate at Texas State. It’s unclear whether Texas State will still have a chance to host. The June debate, hosted by CNN, will be in Georgia.

“We are aware of the latest developments surrounding the presidential debates. 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 if the network would consider hosting the debate at Texas State.

Texas State was expecting to spend about $5 million to host its debate. The university had appointed Jack Martin, a former chair of the Texas State University System’s Board of Regents, to head the fundraising for the debate.

While news organizations often host primary debates, the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates was established in 1987 to provide a neutral forum for candidates ahead the general election. The commission said in a statement Wednesday that it had selected its dates and locations to “reach the widest television, radio and streaming audience.”

“The American public deserves substantive debates from the leading candidates for president and vice president,” the statement read. “Our 2024 sites, all locations of higher learning, are prepared to host debates on dates chosen to accommodate early voters. We will continue to be ready to execute this plan.”

The Trump and Biden campaigns had coordinated to arrange additional debate dates that would not involve the Commission, The Washington Post reported.

The two publicly agreed to the June and September dates, though Trump challenged Biden to have additional debates earlier in the cycle — in June, July, August and September — to “have maximum exposure to the records and future visions of each candidate,” according to a memo released by the Trump campaign.

In its letter to the commission, the Biden campaign said the commission's debate format was no longer up to date with current voting trends, taking place after early voting began in many states. It also said the commission failed to enforce its own rules in the 2020 debates.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, questioned the decision to "basically sink the Commission’s proposal."

"The Commission had already agreed to one presidential debate. It’s at Texas State University in San Marcos, so I hope that hasn’t gone by the wayside because I think that was a big coup for Chancellor [Brian] McCall and a chance for a lot of those students to be able to see a presidential debate in person,” Cornyn told reporters Wednesday.

Voting FAQ: 2024 Elections

  • When is the next election? What dates do I need to know?

    Election Day for the general election is November 5, and early voting will run from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. The deadline to register to vote and/or change your voter registration address is Oct. 7. Applications to vote by mail must be received by your county of residence – not postmarked – by Oct. 25.

  • What’s on the ballot for the general election?

    In addition to the president, eligible Texans have the opportunity to cast their ballots for many Texas officials running for office at the federal, state and local levels.
    This includes representatives in the U.S. and Texas houses and the following elected offices:
    -1 U.S Senator (Ted Cruz)
    - 1 of 3 Railroad Commissioners
    - 15 State Senators
    - 7 State Board of Education members
    - 3 members of the Texas Supreme Court
    - 3 members of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    - 5 Chief Justices and various justices for Texas Courts of Appeals

    Lower-level judges and local county offices will also appear on the ballot:
    - Various district judges, including on criminal and family courts
    - County Courts at Law
    - Justices of the Peace
    - District Attorneys
    - County Attorneys
    - Sheriffs
    - Constables
    - Tax Assessor-Collectors

  • How do I make sure I’m registered to vote?

    You can check to see if you’re registered and verify your information through the Texas Secretary of State’s website. You’ll need one of the following three combinations to log in: Your Texas driver’s license number and date of birth. Your first and last names, date of birth and county you reside in. Your date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which appears on your voter registration certificate.

  • What if I missed the voter registration deadline?

    You must be registered to vote in a Texas county by Oct. 7 to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election. You can still register for other elections.
    If you’re registered but didn’t update your address by the deadline, you may still be able to vote at your previous voting location or on a limited ballot. (Voters are typically assigned precincts based on where they live. In most major counties, voters can vote anywhere on Election Day, but some counties require you vote within your precinct. If that is the case, you may have to return to your previous precinct. See which counties allow countywide Election Day voting here. You can usually find your precinct listed on your voter registration certificate or on when checking your registration online.)
    If you moved from one county to another, you may be able to vote on a ballot limited to the elections you would qualify to vote in at both locations, such as statewide races. However, limited ballots are only available during early voting. Find your county election official here and contact them to ask about or request a limited ballot.

  • What can I do if I have questions about voting?

    You can contact your county elections official or call the Texas Secretary of State's helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). A coalition of voting rights groups is also helping voters navigate election concerns through the 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) voter-protection helpline. The coalition also has hotlines available for voters who speaker other languages or have accessibility needs.
    For help in Spanish, call 888-VE-Y-VOTA or 888-839-8682.
    For help in Asian languages, call 888-API-VOTE or 888-274-8683.
    For help in Arabic, call 888-YALLA-US or 888-925-5287.
    For help in American Sign Language through a video, call 301-818-VOTE or 301-818-8683.
    For help from Disability Rights Texas, call 888-796-VOTE or 888-796-8683.

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