The Free & Equal Elections Foundation (Free & Equal) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States, the mission of which is to empower American voters through education and advocacy of electoral reforms.
Presidential debates
2008
During the 2008 presidential election, Free & Equal hosted a presidential debate at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2008. Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin and independent candidate Ralph Nader participated in a debate moderated by journalist Chris Hedges.
Free & Equal debates, 2008 N° Date Host Location Moderators Participants Participant Non-invitee Absent invitee Independent SenatorBarack Obamaof Illinois SenatorJohn McCainof Arizona CongressmanBob Barrof Georgia CongresswomanCynthia McKinneyof Georgia PastorChuck Baldwinof Florida AdvocateRalph Naderof Connecticut1
2012
In 2012, Free & Equal sponsored an October 23, 2012 debate among four third party candidates for President of the United States, moderated by former Larry King Live host Larry King and Christina Tobin. It was televised by RT TV, Al Jazeera English, and C-SPAN.Michael Calderone, Third-Party Debate To Be Broadcast By Al Jazeera English, RT America, But Not Major Cable News Networks, Huffington Post, Posted: 10/19/2012, Updated: 10/23/2012, accessed November 4, 2012 A second debate, between Green Party nominee Jill Stein and Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson, was held on November 5, 2012.
Free & Equal debates, 2012 N° Date Host Location Moderator Participants Participant. Non-invitee. Absent invitee. PresidentBarack Obamaof Illinois GovernorMitt Romneyof Massachusetts GovernorGary Johnsonof New Mexico DoctorJill Steinof Massachusetts CongressmanVirgil Goodeof Virginia MayorRocky Andersonof Utah 1 2
2016
Free & Equal hosted an open debate along with Student Voices Count at the University of Colorado Boulder's Macky Auditorium on October 25, 2016. All candidates with ballot lines representing at least fifteen percent of potential voters were invited to attend.
Free & Equal debates, 2016 N° Date Host Location Moderators Invited participants Participant. Absent invitee. BusinessmanDonald Trumpof New York SecretaryHillary Clintonof New York GovernorGary Johnsonof New Mexico DoctorJill Steinof Massachusetts LieutenantDarrell Castleof Tennessee BusinessmanRocky De La Fuenteof California ActivistGloria La Rivaof California DirectorEvan McMullinof Utah 1October 25, 2016University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, ColoradoEd Asner
2020 Primaries Early on March 4, 2020, the Free & Equal Elections Foundation held a debate at the Hilton Chicago Hotel. Various third-party candidates, as well as minor candidates affiliated with the Democratic and Republican parties attended.
2020 Free & Equal debates Date & Time Location Moderators Invited participants Participant. BusinessmanMark Stewartof Connecticut ActivistDan Berhmanof Texas CarpenterErik Gerhardtof Pennsylvania LNC Vice ChairArvin Vohraof Maryland ActivistSedinam Moyowasifza-Curryof California Financial AdvisorCharles Krautof Virginia EducatorBrian Carrollof California ActivistJ.R. Myersof Alaska ActivistBen Zionof Arizona 1aMarch 4, 20202:00 pm CSTChicago, IllinoisChristina Tobin Participant. FuturistZoltan Istvanof California AttorneyMosie Boydof Arkansas LieutenantKen Armstrongof Hawaii LecturerJo Jorgensenof South Carolina CorporalAdam Kokeshof Indiana ActivistVermin Supremeof Massachusetts TradesmanHowie Hawkinsof New York ActivistGloria La Rivaof California ActivistMark Charlesof the District of Columbia 1bMarch 4, 20206:30 pm CSTChicago, IllinoisChristina Tobin
General election Two debates were held prior to the general election. The first was on October 8, 2020, in Denver, Colorado, with only candidates on the ballot in at least eight states eligible to participate. A second debate open to the same group of candidates occurred on October 24, 2020, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
2020 Free & Equal debates Date & Time Location Moderators Invited participants Participant. Absent Invitee. PresidentDonald Trumpof Florida Former Vice PresidentJoe Bidenof Delaware LecturerJo Jorgensenof South Carolina TradesmanHowie Hawkinsof New York ActivistGloria La Rivaof California BusinessmanRocky De La Fuenteof California BusinessmanDon Blankenshipof West Virginia EducatorBrian Carrollof California EntrepreneurBrock Pierceof Puerto Rico ProducerKanye Westof Wyoming 2October 8, 20206:00 pm MDTDenver, ColoradoChristina Tobin 3October 24, 20206:00 pm MDTCheyenne, WyomingChristina Tobin
2024 Primaries On January 18, 2024, the Free & Equal Elections Foundation held its first ever Democratic Party primary debate. Candidates were invited if they had ballot access in at least four states. Although eight candidates were invited, only Gabriel Cornejo, Frankie Lozada, Stephen Lyons, and Jason Palmer participated.
On February 29, 2024 Free & Equal held its first independent presidential debate, with two Libertarian candidates (Chase Oliver and Lars Mapstead), two Green Party candidates (Jill Stein and Jasmine Sherman) (also nominee of The Unicorn Party), and Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee Claudia De la Cruz. Independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Cornel West were invited but declined to attend.
2024 Free & Equal debates Date & Time Location Moderators Invited participants Participant. Absent Invitee. PresidentJoe Bidenof Delaware EntrepreneurGabriel Cornejoof New York Entrepreneur Frankie Lozadaof New York PlumberStephen Lyonsof California EntrepreneurJason Palmerof Maryland CongressmanDean Phillipsof Minnesota Media hostCenk Uygurof California AuthorMarianne Williamsonof California 1January 18, 20246:00 pm PDTLos Angeles, CaliforniaChristina Tobin Kwame Jackson Participant. Absent Invitee. BusinessmanLars Mapstead of California Sales executiveChase Oliverof Georgia ActivistJasmine Shermanof North Carolina DoctorJill Steinof Massachusetts ActivistClaudia De la Cruzof New York AttorneyRobert F. Kennedy Jr.of California AcademicCornel Westof California 2February 29, 20248:00 pm EDTNew York City, New YorkJason PalmerCaitlin SinclairChristina Tobin
Presidential debates
Free and Equal hosted a second debate on July 12, 2024, at FreedomFest in Las Vegas, Nevada moderated by the foundation's chair, Christina Tobin and congressman Thomas Massie. Biden, Kennedy, Oliver, Stein, Randall Terry, Trump and West were invited to the debate, while Oliver, Stein, and Terry participated.
Free and Equal hosted a third debate on October 23, 2024 in Los Angeles, California moderated by the foundation's chair, Christina Tobin and former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker. Chase Oliver, Jill Stein, Randall Terry, Claudia De la Cruz, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, and Cornel West were invited. Oliver, Stein, and Terry participated again.
Electoral reform symposia
Since 2009, Free & Equal has hosted electoral reform symposia to unite intellectuals and experts to share and debate reforms to the U.S. electoral system. Past panelists and speakers include president of the League of Women Voters of Colorado Nancy Crow, deputy secretary of state of Colorado Suzanne Staiert, FairVote founder Rob Richie, Nexus Earth founder Colin Cantrell, and Ballot Access News founder Richard Winger.
United We Stand tour
In 2014, Free & Equal launched United We Stand, a festival and tour uniting the younger generations with musicians, artists, and thought leaders to promote political and cultural change. Since its inception, the tour has made stops at Belasco Theater in Los Angeles in 2014 and 2015, University of Colorado Boulder in 2016, and Texas A&M University in 2018. The 2019 tour included Indiana, Texas, Colorado, Oregon, and Tennessee.
References
External links Free & Equal Elections Foundation, official website Free & Equal Elections 2024 Presidential Debate Series #2. Published March 5, 2024.