Let the Debates Begin! Oregonians Deserve To See Read and Kotek Square Off More Than Once

The two camps have yet to engage in a public debate. That's a disservice to all voters.

*Disclosure: I interned for then-State Representative Tobias Read in 2010.

Correction¹

Debates are an integral part of a strong democracy. That’s what makes the lack of debates in our primary season is troubling. Thankfully, there’s an easy fix. 

Oregonians have gotten used to candidates squaring off in formal debates open to the public. For example, back in the 1950s, Congressman Sam Coon and Senator Richard Neuberger—political opponents—had ten debates that allowed voters to see the pros and cons related to hydroelectric development projects. But these were much more than debates — they were civic celebrations. 

Coined “Ten Dam Nights” by TIME, the series of debates invited folks from all parts of civil society to play a part in the democratic drama. Students developed questions. Local leaders served as moderators. Small businesses helped host the events. It all added up to something that was much larger than the politicians on the stage. 

That’s why I commend Tobias Read for asking his Democratic competitor Tina Kotek to four debates in their party’s primary. He’s inviting the public to get more involved in our democracy by getting a closer glimpse at two very strong canddiates.

If the past is any indication of the future, one of these two folks will be our next governor. It goes without saying that the governor’s office is much bigger than any party or any official. A debate between Kotek and Read that’s confined to Democratic insiders means little to the Oregonians who may soon call Tina or Tobias, “Governor.” That office affects the lives of every Oregonian—especially nowadays, when executive power has been wielded to shape every aspect of our lives in response to COVID. This race is larger than the “R”, “D”, or “I” next to a candidate’s name.

So Oregonians deserve as much exposure as possible to the folks that may hold that office. But that exposure must go beyond curated speeches and ribbon cutting ceremonies. Voters deserve to see candidates on their toes, in stressful situations, and pressed to formulate respectful but meaningful responses. 

With so little time before the May primary and no series of debates having been announced, it looks like this primary is going to be fought behind the scenes rather than before the voters. That’s a disservice to our democracy. Even if the two agree to one public debate, that’s far short of what’s appropriate.

Voters deserve more . . . several more. Of course, they deserve more from both sides and all sides. Democrats aren’t the only ones have an obligation to make the election a real contest of ideas, rather than an exchange of strongly worded press releases.

Voters deserve a chance to exercise their democratic muscles by participating in debates at each stage of the gubernatorial election. It’s sad that more meaningful types of debates—such as policy challenges in which both candidates have to respond to a hypothetical emergency—aren’t even on the table. As Jim Moore made clear in the Way, it’s important for voters to see how candidates learn—How do they respond to new facts? Who do they consult for more information? What principles will they refer to for guidance?

None of those questions can be answered on a website, in a YouTube video, or in a press release.

The fix for all this is simple. Kotek and Read should make real the four public debates they’ve agreed to and raise the stakes by specifying that the debates should look more like policy forums. A day before each debate, the two campaigns would receive a hypothetical scenario related to homelessness, affordable housing, climate change, small business development, or whatever issues the candidates want to priortize. Then, the “debate” would start with an explanation of their responses before they exchange ideas on why their solution is the preferable one.

There’s no shortage of groups that would host this series—ideally with one debate taking place in each corner of the state. What’s lacking is the political will. So, who is ready to give voters what they deserve?

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Kevin Frazier edits The Oregon Way between classes at the UC Berkeley School of Law.

1. An earlier version of this article encouraged Tina Kotek to accept invites from Tobias Read to debate. An official from the Kotek campaign informed us that “Tina has accepted invitations for every debate and forum she has received thus far and has been clear that she hopes there will be at least 4 public debates.”