JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For the second time this election cycle, candidates in major Florida races would not agree to take the debate stage, and some political observers believe a trend is forming.
Voters like Enice Butler told Action News Jax they believe it’s important to see candidates take the stage and participate in debates.
“It kind of shows how they are knowledgeable about what they’re talking about, and if they’re really just gonna apply what they say or if they’re just saying basic things to get into the office,” said Butler.
But lately, candidates seem to be less willing to participate in such events.
Republican US Senator Ashley Moody recently declined Action News Jax’s debate offer, and over the summer Republican Gubernatorial candidates Byron Donalds and Jay Collins both declined our offer to host a Primary debate.
UCF Political Science Professor Dr. Aubry Jewett argued there are some similarities between the US Senate race and that Gubernatorial Primary.
Donalds held a solid lead in the polls in that race, and Moody seems to have a decent lead over her Democratic opponent Angie Nixon.
“If they feel like they have a lead and they don’t want to do something to risk it, then they play it safe, and they don’t debate. Because the thing about debates is that the unexpected can happen,” said Jewett.
And Jewett suggested a trend appears to be forming.
“If Republicans continue to feel like they have a solid lead in most races, then they may just say, yeah, there’s no reason for us to debate,” said Jewett. ”Because, again, well, it’s not gonna help us very much cause they’re gonna say we’ve already got a good lead and it may hurt us, so why risk it?”
But he argued it’s a trend that only stands to hurt voters.
“I think it’s still really important for a lot of voters to have a debate. It’s not just like a big spectacle of a Roman circus. I mean, it is a little, but it’s more of voters can gain valuable information about the candidates from these debates,” said Jewett. ”And so, there is a reason still to have them.”
Action News Jax is also working to see whether the Senatorial candidates would be willing to participate in a town hall-style event.
Nixon has agreed, and Moody’s campaign has said it’s considering the possibility.
In the Gubernatorial race, Donalds, the Republican nominee, has called for there to be not just one, but three debates.
Democratic nominee David Jolly agreed to a debate with a Miami news station on Sunday, but as of now, no event is officially set in stone.
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