Seven public debates will take place throughout the state in advance of the November 2022 election, including political face-offs between the candidates for governor, secretary of state and all five U.S. Congressional districts.
Co-produced by the Hamden-based League of Women Voters of Connecticut (LWVCT) and Connecticut Public, the debates will be broadcast on 7 consecutive Thursday nights at 8 p.m. starting Sept. 15 and culminating with a gubernatorial debate at Fairfield University Oct. 27. The locations of the debates and details about attending in person were not announced. The producers stated their goal is to have them “at or in close proximity to urban centers”, with the goal of including “as many students and young people as possible in the debate process.”
Each debate will be broadcast live and streamed on CPTV, ctpublic.org, YouTube, Facebook Live, as well as the LWVCT website and YouTube channel. The debates will also be simulcast on Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR 88.5 FM and 90.5 FM, and streaming at ctpublic.org). Each debate will be moderated by Connecticut Public journalists. In addition, a live stream will be offered to any media outlet or organization in the state that would like to stream the debates. The debate series will also be produced as a podcast accessible via the App Store, Google Play and other podcast platforms.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with the League of Women Voters to bring these debates to the people of Connecticut, ” said Tim Rasmussen, Chief Content Officer of Connecticut Public. “This ambitious, comprehensive debate series will provide voters with direct access to candidates—something that is essential for a healthy democracy and building trust in our election process. As Connecticut’s non-profit public media source, Connecticut Public and our journalists are highly trusted by our viewers and listeners, and we are pleased to be able to help inform and educate our electorate and hold our elected representatives accountable.”
”The League is very excited to partner with Connecticut Public to bring these debates to the public,” said Laura Smits, President of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut. “We both share a vision of offering voters direct access to the candidates in a straight-forward and non-partisan way. Right now, in a world with so much access to information, it’s important that voters can hear from voices they can trust. Connecticut Public’s reputation for solid journalism combined with our expertise in hosting fair debates is a terrific combination and should give voters confidence that, in the century old tradition of the League, we will ensure the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.”
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is a nonpartisan grassroots political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. The state league, in conjunction with 22 local leagues in cities and towns across Connecticut, provide citizens with meaningful ways to support and celebrate civic engagement, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.
To learn more about the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, visit www.lwvct.org.
