Arizona candidates will step onto a different debate platform in 2024 than in previous cycles. The state saw a breakdown in order during the midterm elections after the gubernatorial candidates raised objections to the format.
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission has revamped the debate process following a flurry of debates last year that caused controversy and chaos during a tense election cycle. The commission, which oversees and plans the debate, did not have a firm grasp on the format during the 2022 midterm elections.
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During the midterm elections, Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) and Republican Kari Lake objected to the debate format, causing confusion between the commission and Arizona PBS.
Lake bowed out of a Republican primary debate after learning that an Arizona Republic journalist would serve as a co-moderator. The commission did not know about the journalist's participation, as it was arranged by Arizona PBS.
During the general election, Hobbs declined a commission-sponsored debate and accepted a one-on-one interview with Arizona PBS. Because of this, the commission canceled its one-on-one with Lake, who did not object to the general election debate format.
After those debates caused a slew of headaches, the debate stage will look vastly different.
Now, local journalists will serve as moderators of the candidate debates, with their selections known well ahead of time so candidates can be prepared, said Gina Roberts, the commission's voter education director, according to AZ Central.
Before the changes, candidates from one district were thrown together on a single debate stage, regardless if they were running for a state House or state Senate seat. Because of this, sometimes a Republican candidate for a House seat would be battling a Senate Democratic candidate despite the fact that they would not be on a ballot together.
Now, the debates will pair candidates who are running for the same seat.
"That way, only the true opponents are debating each other," Roberts said, adding that the change will hopefully prompt more candidates to participate.
Candidates who use the state's publicly funded campaign finance program, which the commission handles, are obligated to participate in debates. However, privately funded candidates typically participate as well.
Arizona is already gearing up for a fiery battle between Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) — and that's without a declared high-profile GOP primary candidate.
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Republicans fear they will see a repeat of 2022 if Lake decides to run for the Senate seat, which she is considering. Former Senate Republican candidate Blake Masters, who lost to Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), is reportedly considering another run.
Masters and Lake were endorsed by former President Donald Trump and, as with many of his other endorsed candidates, lost in the midterm elections.