ELECTIONS, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT
University of Utah to host a 2024 presidential debate
Nov 20, 2023, 10:33 AM | Updated: Feb 5, 2024, 8:00 am
FILE: A student walks past the U on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Megan Nielsen/Deseret News)
(Megan Nielsen/Deseret News)
The University of Utah previously hosted the 2020 vice presidential debate.
Executive Committee Member for the Utah Debate Commission Scott Howell told KSL NewsRadio that the news is a compliment to the state of Utah.
“We are thrilled and honored to be able to host such a wonderful opportunity for the world to showcase our great university,” Howell said, adding, “We love having this at a university which represents the youth of America that we really want to have engaged.”
Howell said the decision showed, “Whether you’re on the left or whether you’re on the right, that we [Utah] believe in the system of democracy and in voting.”
He encouraged Utahns to take advantage of having a presidential debate in our backyard by studying the issues and candidates.
Along with sharing the commission’s excitement over the news, Howell also shared that former Utah Rep. Becky Edwards has joined the Utah Debate Commission as Republican co-chair.
Edwards will serve alongside former State Sen. Ed Allen, who is the Democratic co-chair of the commission.
“We’re thrilled to have such a fabulous leader as the co-chair,” Howell said.
Presidential and vice presidential debates for 2024 election
Leading up to the Utah-hosted 2024 presidential debate, Texas State University and Virginia State University will also host presidential debates.
Virginia State University, a historically Black university, will be the first HBCU to host a presidential debate.
The 2024 vice presidential debate will be held at Lafayette College.
The CPD said that all debates will start at 9 p.m. EST. They will run for 90 minutes.
According to the CPD, “in 2024, students at our four debate sites will help bring another set of historic conversations to audiences here and abroad. And their campuses will anchor four unique chances to listen and learn.”
The CPD plans to announce additional details about the debates, including information about moderators and format, in 2024.
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