Indiana Debate Commission invites voters to ask questions of gubernatorial candidates

The Indiana Debate Commission, the first independent debate commission of its kind in the United States, is now accepting questions from Hoosier voters who want to pose inquiries to Indiana’s three gubernatorial candidates who are on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The governor’s race is a three-way contest this year between Republican Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick, and Libertarian Donald G. Rainwater II. All three candidates have agreed to participate in the debate, which will be moderated by Commission member Laura Merrifield Wilson, a political science professor at University of Indianapolis and host of Positively Politics, a radio show on WICR 88.7.

In keeping with its mission of “Putting Voters First,” the commission invites Hoosier voters to submit questions via its website, indianadebatecommission.com, using the “Ask Your Question” link at the top of the homepage.

Questions will be vetted by members of the commission and accepted for full consideration through Oct. 11. Hoosiers whose questions are selected also may be offered the opportunity to ask their questions on pre-taped video during the hour-long debate. Consistent with past practice, candidates do not receive the questions in advance from the commission.

“We look forward to giving citizens this platform to voice their concerns,” Commission President Elizabeth Bennion said. “We have already been getting daily questions from voters and we welcome more as the debate offers an outstanding opportunity for Hoosier voters to hear candidates address the issues that matter most to them as Indiana residents and voters.”

Candidates have agreed to debate on Thursday, Oct. 24. The debate will be broadcast from 7 to 8 p.m. from WFYI-TV in Indianapolis and will also be live-streamed on the commission’s website and YouTube channel. Hoosiers can also check with their local news organizations to find out other ways to watch or listen. The IDC makes the feed available to all news outlets for broadcast over-the-air and online.

Since its founding in 2007, the Indiana Debate Commission has produced 24 statewide debates in U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections. The commission, a nonprofit organization which hosted its first debates in 2008, is the only independent organization in the state that provides free broadcast satellite feeds and web streams to all news media.