GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s political landscape is poised for a shift as a diverse coalition spearheads an initiative to revitalize political discourse in the state. Comprising prominent entities like the Detroit Economic Club, Oakland University, and others, the Michigan Debate Task Force aims to counteract a concerning decline in political debates by orchestrating a series of three engaging events. It starts with the upcoming contest for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.

The Task Force wasted no time, promptly dispatching letters to the seven major party candidates – three Democrats and four Republicans – vying for the soon-to-be vacant Michigan Senate seat.

Criteria will dictate candidate participation.

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Scheduled for this fall, the three debates will offer a platform for candidates to articulate their visions and policies to voters. Third-party and independent candidates will also be considered for participation, provided they meet specific criteria, including polling thresholds.

To ensure fairness and transparency, the Task Force has established clear criteria for candidate participation. By setting benchmarks related to campaign infrastructure, media coverage, and polling performance, the Task Force aims to uphold standards of credibility and relevance in selecting debate participants.

Who is in the debate task force?

Additional members in the task force include: Economic Club of Traverse City, Grand Rapids Chamber, Grand Valley State University, The Hispanic Center, Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, Northwestern Michigan College, Urban League of Detroit and Southeast Michigan and the Urban League of West Michigan.

Where will the debates be held?

The first debate will be held in the Grand Rapids area on September 12th. The subsequent debates will be in Traverse City on October 10th and in metro Detroit on October 22nd.

This debate initiative addresses a pressing need for robust engagement in the electoral process, according to the Task Force. By staging debates strategically before key voting milestones, such as absentee ballot distribution and early voting periods, the Task Force aims to ensure voters receive unfiltered insights directly from candidates. This proactive approach seeks to counteract what they refer to as a trend of candidates controlling messaging and provides voters with a deeper understanding of the issues at stake.

The Detroit News endorses debate plan.

Recognizing the pivotal role of media in shaping public discourse, the Task Force has garnered endorsements from leading state media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press, underscoring its commitment to fostering impartial and substantive debates.

What do the stakeholders have to say about the debate proposal?

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Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella says about the debates, “Having engaged and informed citizens is vital to the success of our democracy. The Task Force’s commitment to providing equal, non-partisan access to candidates will help voters as they make their choices.”

Pointing to the Traverse City debate, Warren Call, President and CEO of Traverse Connect, a Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance member says, “Legislative and public policy issues impact the U.P. and northern Michigan in unique ways. For Michigan to succeed, we need each region to succeed. The Task Force believes that our statewide candidates should hear about the unique concerns of different geographic regions.”

Dave Dulio, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University, is also emphasizing the long-term vision behind the Task Force’s efforts. By challenging the status quo where candidates dictate the narrative, the Task Force seeks to gradually shift the dynamics towards more inclusive and informative debates.

Task force plans could expand to regional and local races.

While initial focus remains on statewide races, there’s potential for the Task Force to extend its reach to regional and local contests in the future.

Currently running for the Senate seat on the Democrat side are: frontrunner U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, actor Hill Harper from Detroit and businessman Nasser Beydoun from Dearborn. The Republican candidates are former U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers and Justin Amash, entrepreneur Sandy Pensler and Dr. Sherry O’Donnell.

How are the candidates are responding?

According to the Detroit News, several of the candidates have responded directly about the debate proposal except for Slotkin. However, spokesman Antoine Givens said in a statement, “Elissa has always done general election debates in each of her last campaigns, and she plans to do the same in this race. She welcomes the chance to highlight the differences between her and her opponents, and we look forward to working out those details in the coming months.”

Beydoun and Harper, both Democrats, have affirmed their readiness to participate in “any” debate in Michigan if selected as the party’s nominee. They express eagerness for primary debates too. Harper emphasized the significance of this primary, stating, “This is the first competitive Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan in nearly two and a half decades. Michiganders deserve to see and hear from the candidates about their values and platforms. The people of Michigan are choosing a new senator, and they deserve every opportunity to make an informed decision.”

Republican candidates Roger, Amash and Pensler are also embracing the three-debate proposal. Rogers spokesman Chris Gustafson said in a statement, “Anytime, anywhere, Mike Rogers is ready and eager to debate Elissa Slotkin over her wholesale support of the Biden agenda of higher prices, open borders, and big government mandates.”

Amash, a Libertarian from Cascade Township, said, “I welcome the opportunity for a head-to-head comparison of our ideas and records to clarify what’s at stake. I’m the only candidate who will follow the Constitution, protect everyone’s rights and take on both parties in Washington when they abuse power.”