Debates are a typical part of the election process for Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial candidates.
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Sometimes debates help candidates, they can sink candidates, or they can have a muted impact on an upcoming election.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican running for governor, this week posted to his social media and sent a letter to his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, proposing two debates with unconventional rules.
Shapiro quickly rejected the Republican nominee’s proposed rules of engagement for the debates, calling them a “unserious proposal” that would only encourage Mastriano’s pattern of declining to answer questions from reporters.
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Mastriano’s proposal would have eliminated all outside organizers and limited debate questions to those posed by moderators chosen by the campaigns.
Typically, debates for governor are moderated by non-partisan journalists from respected and often larger news outlets in the state. The campaigns have no say on the questions asked.
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According to Mastriano’s plan, the campaigns would coordinate and fund the 90-minute debates, which would be available for broadcast coverage. Credentials would be handed out by the campaigns.
Mastriano said “Republican statewide candidates fall prey to the trap of debates” where journalists from reputable outlets ask questions. He claimed that reporters are “unpaid advocates and ideological allies of the Democrat candidates.”
The GOP candidate said in his letter that his rules for debates would provide an “even playing field and mitigate the bias of mainstream media.”
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Mastriano, who is down in the polls against Shapiro but has around 80 days to catch up, said he would only debate if it is a “fair fight.”
Will Simons, Shapiro’s campaign spokesperson, said Mastriano’s proposal of a debates on his terms were an “obvious stunt to avoid any real questions about his extreme agenda and record of conduct.”
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“In Pennsylvania, there is a long history of media outlets and independent moderators asking candidates of both parties fair, direct questions about their track records and plans if elected – nobody gets to pick their own moderators or set their own terms,” Shapiro said.
The Shapiro campaign said they would be willing to take part in debates under different terms.
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