Kari Lake, the runner-up for the next governor of Arizona, is also refusing to participate in a debate to be held by Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.
It was announced on Sept. 2 that Hobbs' campaign would not participate in the debate hosted by the Citizens Clean Election Commission on Oct. 12.
As a result of dissatisfaction with the way primary debates were conducted, the commission refused to participate. Several news articles reported on Hobbs' campaign's criticism of the GOP primary debate as being "pure chaos."
“For weeks, Arizona was ridiculed as clips of the GOP primary debate circulated on social media. As a candidate and as governor, Sec. Hobbs will never participate in something that will make Arizona the butt of late-night TV jokes and national ridicule. She has too much respect for the people of Arizona,” Nicole DeMont, the Hobbs’ campaign manager, wrote to the commission.
In an attempt to improve the format for the general debate, the campaign worked with the commission, but the commission approved only one modification, to better enforce time limits.
The original proposal stipulated that each candidate would have one minute to make an opening and closing statement. DeMont said Simons then would have the freedom to conduct his interview as he chooses and ask any questions he wishes.
In 1998, voters passed an act creating the commission that aims to educate voters, make sure candidates do not receive improper funding, and host debates.
3 Sep 2022
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