Voters in Tennessee are about to partake in perhaps the most consequential state election in our history without a chance to hear the candidates for governor present their arguments for our vote. We don't think that's acceptable, so we're creating a petition to let the candidates know that this isn't about what candidates deserve, its about the voters deserve. We deserve candidates who will show up for us.

Why we need debates. Debates play a crucial role informing the public. In Tennessee, a state with diverse and pressing issues ranging from education funding and healthcare crises to affordability and data center development, it is imperative that voters have the opportunity to watch candidates discuss these concerns live. While it may not change the minds of those who are decided, it will help raise awareness about the election and help undecided voters make up their minds. Many of us can recall impactful moments from previous presidential, mayoral, and gubernatorial debates that showed a candidates true character and pushed their ideas out in the open. Without debates, voters are left to rely on paid ads and biased media portrayals, which ultimately undermine the informed decision-making process.

Why we don't have them.  Many valid reasons have been given as to why there's no debate: there are too many candidates, no good way to choose who's invited, some of the candidates could be spoilers, and the bar for entering the race is too low. These constraints mean that if even one major party candidate won't show then it leaves us with no debate at all, which has now happened two election cycles in a row.

How to get one this year. As a temporary solution, we're calling for a neutral party to host a non-partisan, invitational debate at a standing time, and to host the event regardless of who shows up. Participants should be limited to the winners of the party primaries and the winner of the independent debate. and invitations should be sent to the top candidate of each group on the Tennessee ballot as determined by party primaries or independent polling at the time the invitations are sent. This isn't the best long term solution, but we think it would be a major step forward over nothing.

How to solve this problem, forever. After this election we should all demand permanent solutions. These are not new problems, they're intentional and predictable results of the rules created by our elected officials, and they're solvable through policy. As long as our legislators are not willing to solve these problems for the people, someone will keep hiding behind them. We can change that with just three policies: ranked choice voting, final five voting, and nonpartisan primaries (often called jungle primaries), would solve every problem and virtually guarantee future debates.

Therefore, we urge the leading gubernatorial candidates of Tennessee, regardless of party, to commit to a public debate. If some choose not to participate, their absence will speak volumes to voters in Tennessee when they cast their ballots between now and November 3rd. This election is about the future of our state, and it demands that we have all the information we need to make informed decisions. 

Sign the petition today to call for clarity, accountability, and an informed choice. Let our voices be heard so we can make a truly informed decision for a better Tennessee. Together, we can demand the debate that voters deserve.