Could the general election debates involve 3 candidates?

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump might have some company on the debate stage in September. Politico reported Tuesday that the Commission on Presidential Debates has advised universities hosting the upcoming general election debates to have a third lectern ready to go "just in case." When asked about the possibility of Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson or Green Party nominee Jill Stein making the stage, Commission on Presidential Debates Co-Chair Mike McCurry told Politico, "Some of our production people may have said, 'Just in case, you need to plan out what that might look like.'"
Producers from the commission insist the directive they've given universities is more about being as prepared as possible than it is a "reflection of the state of the race," Politico reported. For a candidate to debate, he or she must "appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning a majority vote in the Electoral College," the commission determined last year, and have at least 15 percent support in the national polls. Johnson has 8.8 percent support right now, and Stein has about 3.8 percent.
The commission says it might "consider giving an inch" to a third-party candidate who nears the requisite percentage. "We won't know the number of invitations we extend until mid-September," McCurry said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As of now, there are three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate scheduled. The first debate is slated for Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published