Who participates in the New York City Debate Program?

To participate in the first primary and/or general election debate for their office, candidates must demonstrate “a minimum level of public support”. Uniform and objective criteria for determining the minimum level of public support are set in advance. Only candidates deemed “leading contenders” on the basis of additional uniform and objective criteria participate in the second primary and second general election debates.

Program participants (including “limited participants”) who meet the criteria for participating in a particular debate are required to take part. Debate sponsors are permitted to invite candidates who are not Program participants to participate in any of the debates as long as they satisfy the same criteria applicable to Program participants.

Debate Sponsors

Prior to each citywide election, the CFB seeks proposals from potential debate sponsors outlining how they would conduct, broadcast, and publicize the debates. In many cases, more than one organization (such as a media entity and a civic group or university) will team up and submit a proposal to co-sponsor one or more debates. The CFB selects sponsors who are best able to reach the public with an informative and audience-friendly debate.

Debate sponsors must not be affiliated with any political party, candidate, or public official, and must not endorse any candidates for the pending primary or general election before the debates for that election are held.

The names of the sponsors for each debate are listed on the debate schedules produced by the CFB to advertise the debates. To view schedules produced for previous elections, visit the Debate Archives.