Candidates in competitive midterm gubernatorial races are increasingly dodging debates, abandoning a campaign staple that has defined electoral politics for decades.
Five of 10 closely watched races—Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Texas—have no agreed-upon debates between major-party nominees. The shift reflects a strategic calculation: many candidates now see debates as inefficient use of time and prefer to control their message through advertising and social media.
In Florida, Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly declined to debate Republican Rep. Byron Donalds. For a financially outgunned Democrat running in a Republican-leaning state, the decision to skip a debate represents a stark reversal from traditional campaign practice.
Ohio's Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton refused to debate Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, citing personal attacks against her and her family.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has not agreed to debate Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Abbott debated Democrat Beto O'Rourke in 2022, making his refusal to engage Hinojosa this cycle conspicuous.
In Nevada, Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford accepted two debate invitations from Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has not publicly committed to appearing.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs declined debate this year, maintaining a stance she took four years ago.
Iowa presents a contrasting picture. The Republican-led state scheduled four gubernatorial debates for this fall—up from one in 2022—reflecting how fiercely the race has intensified as Trump support has eroded in farm communities.
Brett O'Donnell, a Republican debate consultant, said the decline damages democracy. "The broader campaign and media environment has changed," O'Donnell said, attributing the shift to how candidates now operate.
Political observers say debates appeal to a shrinking audience of highly engaged voters. Candidates increasingly view them as a poor investment compared to targeted digital advertising and controlled messaging. Political operatives argue that debates force candidates to confront opponents and issues directly without filtering—a vulnerability many nominees now avoid by staying in their own echo chambers.
