# Candidates skip debates to control the message

> More than half of competitive Senate and Governor races will end without a debate as candidates avoid live confrontation in favour of viral moments.
- Title: Candidates skip debates to control the message · TIME
- Summary: More than half of competitive Senate and Governor races will end without a debate as candidates avoid live confrontation in favour of viral moments. In more…
- Keywords: 2024 elections, senate races, governor races, campaign strategy, political debates, jon ossoff, abdul el-sayed, troy jackson, ken paxton, james talarico, amy acton, vivek ramaswamy
- Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/10/13/new-candidate-strategy-don-t-debate
- Author: Philip Elliott
- Published: 2026-10-13T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: 2024 elections, senate races, governor races, campaign strategy, political debates, jon ossoff, abdul el-sayed, troy jackson, ken paxton, james talarico, amy acton, vivek ramaswamy
## Democrats land viral blows on debate stage
On Thursday in Georgia, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff branded his opponent a bigot: "You've hired half the Third Reich." Similar attacks flew in Michigan and Maine, with Democrats targeting Republicans on social media.

> You've hired half the Third Reich.
## Debate avoidance is now the norm
In more than half of races for Governor and Senate, the two major-party candidates are not expected to participate in any debates before Election Day. The trend holds even in competitive races.
## Toss-up races are skipping debates
The Cook Political Report rates five Governor races as true toss-ups. Three, Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio, are not likely to hold a debate. Two of the hardest-fought Senate races, Texas and Ohio, are also debate-free.
## Strategists say voters prefer viral clips
Strategists explain the shift as a response to how voters consume information. Few voters watch full debates. Gaffes and gotchas clipped and amplified by partisan media reach far more people than in-depth coverage.
## One gaffe can define a campaign
Sen. Darlene Graham learned this lesson after her August debate stumble. She said: "I'm just going to be honest here. I'm not that informed on national security." The audience gasped in shock.

> I'm just going to be honest here. I'm not that informed on national security.
## Trump wades into Texas debate standoff
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico has pushed Republican Ken Paxton to debate for months.Last week, Trump mocked Talarico at a San Antonio rally, suggesting he was absent because he is a secret vegan rejecting barbecue.
## Trump calls for Texas debate on social media
Trump wrote on his platform: "Ladies and Gentlemen, upon information and belief, James TalaFREAKo, who is running for the United States Senate in Texas, is MISSING IN ACTION!

> Ladies and Gentlemen, upon information and belief, James TalaFREAKo, who is running for the United States Senate in Texas, is MISSING IN ACTION!
## Debate decline is accelerating sharply
Of this year's thirty-six races for Governor, twenty-one races, or fifty-eight percent, won't see a debate.The same analysis pegs the share of Senate races likely to reach Election Day without a debate at sixty percent.
## Debates matter less in ad-saturated races
Some political professionals question how much debates matter, particularly in hard-fought races where voters are bombarded with ads.
## Debate avoidance may reshape 2028 race
The debate absenteeism in this cycle may be a harbinger of what's to come in twenty twenty-eight, which is shaping up to be dominated by crowded fights for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations.
## Key takeaway

In more than half of Senate and Governor races, major-party candidates are skipping debates entirely, relying instead on social media clips and partisan amplification to reach voters.