The Republican National Committee says the next GOP nominee for president will not participate in debates set up by the Commission on Presidential Debates, citing concerns of partisan bias.
Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told organizations applying to host a debate not to “waste your time.” She sent a letter to the commission with a history of the RNC voicing concerns over the debate structure, along with a list of changes to enact before Republican presidential candidates will consider going on the debate stage. The letter serves as a prelude to a rule change in the RNC winter meeting to “prohibit future Republican nominees from participating in CPD-sponsored debates.”
LINDSEY GRAHAM AND REPUBLICAN ANTI-ABORTION LEADERS ENDORSE MCDANIEL FOR RNC CHAIRWOMAN
NEWSFLASH for organizations considering applying to the Commission on Presidential Debates in response to their request for proposals:
Don’t waste your time. The GOP nominee will not be participating in any debate put on by the biased and flawed CPD.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) January 23, 2023
“NEWSFLASH for organizations considering applying to the Commission on Presidential Debates in response to their request for proposals: Don’t waste your time. The GOP nominee will not be participating in any debate put on by the biased and flawed CPD,” McDaniel tweeted Monday.
The RNC’s proposed changes, sent in a letter to the CPD earlier this month, include banning debates after early voting has begun, notifying candidates of changes to previously agreed-upon rules, barring moderators who have a conflict of interest with a candidate, and keeping the commission strictly nonpartisan and board members from disparaging candidates. The rules changes would include term limits and a code of conduct for board members.
According to the letter, discussions between the RNC and CPD have been ongoing since June, but the party hasn’t been satisfied with its response.
“These proposals are common sense solutions for an organization whose unique, nonpartisan role in American elections requires it to stand above the political fray,” the letter said. “Indeed, we believe that most neutral observers would be shocked to learn that these overdue reforms are not already CPD policy.”
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McDaniel is facing lawyer Harmeet Dhillon in her bid to lead the GOP for a fourth term. More than 160 voting members will select the next chair at a meeting later this week.
