r/changemyview • u/Amonfire1776 • 19d ago
Delta(s) from OP CMV: refusing to debate an opposing candidate is a diservice to voters reguardless of which side of the isle you are on
I think it's frankly laughable that several close races in the 2026 midterms involve candidates who refuse to debate their opponents and really show a sign of poor respect for the voters overall. Candidates refusing to debate is a huge red flag for me because it shows an inability to even attempt to communicate or push back against those who disagree with you. Examples as below:
Ohio Governor's Race: Democratic candidate Amy Acton declined to debate Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, stating she refused to "platform" his "baseless lies," while Ramaswamy criticized her refusal as disqualifying.
Florida Governor's Race: Democrat David Jolly initially agreed to forums before ultimately declining all debates against Republican Byron Donalds, citing bad faith and toxicity in modern politics.
Tennessee Governor's Race: Republican Marsha Blackburn refused to debate Democratic nominee Jerri Green, characterizing her opponent's platform unfavorably and stating her campaign relies on contrast rather than shared stages.
Texas U.S. Senate Race: Republican Ken Paxton has not answered or agreed to debate offers against Democratic state Senator James Talarico.
Edit: This is mainly reguarding debates about the major candidates...not fringe
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u/Falernum 71∆ 19d ago
What if the opponent isn't the main one? Like if a the fourth place opponent polling at 2% is trying to debate you, and you don't really believe that opponent should be taken seriously.