Universities in potential swing states chosen for 2016 presidential debates

Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Wright State University in Ohio, and Virginia's Longwood University have been chosen as venues for the 2016 presidential and vice presidential debates.

In April, 16 schools submitted bids to the Commission on Presidential Debates, the non-partisan organization that has sponsored official presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988, The Associated Press reports. The first presidential debate will be held at Wright State in Dayton on Sept. 26, and the second will take place at Washington University Oct. 9. The University of Nevada will host the Oct. 19 debate in Las Vegas. The vice presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 4 at Longwood University in Farmville.

Political scientist Ken Warren told AP that all of the universities are in potential swing states, and he doesn't "think it's coincidental," but the commission's executive director said the vetting process focused on whether the sites were able to host something as "big and complicated" as a debate.

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