TL/DR –
The 2022 Arizona gubernatorial debate was marked by controversy when candidate Katie Hobbs refused to participate in a televised debate with her Republican opponent, Kari Lake, leading to one-on-one interviews instead. Recent public records reveal discussions between Arizona State University (ASU) President Michael Crow, and his aides, about handling Lake, known for election denialism. The situation has sparked a debate on how journalists should cover races built on election denialism and whether candidates can mislead the public under the guise of free speech.
ASU’s Role in the 2022 Gubernatorial Debate Controversy
ASU President Michael Crow and his aides privately discussed how to proceed amidst a public dispute in the 2022 gubernatorial debate. This came to light after then-candidate Katie Hobbs declined to participate in a televised debate on Arizona PBS with her Republican opponent Kari Lake.
As per the rules, Lake was allowed to have a one-on-one interview due to Hobbs’ refusal to debate. However, the situation escalated when Hobbs disclosed that she too had planned a one-on-one interview with Arizona PBS, approved by the top of ASU, which also houses Arizona PBS.
Three years post-debate, Arizona Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger received her public records request. After a wait of 743 days, she got access to reports on behind-the-scenes discussions involving Crow and his top aides on handling Lake, a known election denier.
Changes in the Upcoming Gubernatorial Debates
Since 2022, the Clean Elections Commission has partnered with the Arizona Media Association for debates, allowing more TV stations and newspapers to access these debates. The Clean Elections Commission’s goal is public education about candidates, and they invite all qualified candidates, entrusting the journalists moderating to question the candidates on their views.
Due to the reporting by The Arizona Republic, ASU, Kari Lake, and even Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, have commented on the situation and the future. This also raises journalistic questions about how reporters cover races prominently built on election denialism and the extent of freedom major-party candidates have to mislead the public.
Discussion on the 2022 Debate Controversy
This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts are joined by Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger to discuss the 2022 debate controversy and its aftermath. Bob Corn-Revere, an attorney advocating for free expression on college campuses, discusses whether ethical and legal boundaries were crossed and the way forward for journalists, politicians, and the public.
Listen to the Episode
Subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below. An AI transcript of the episode script is available, with potential slight deviations from the podcast audio.
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