Ensuring a broad cross-section of Washingtonians have the opportunity to participate in upcoming debates, the Washington State Debate Coalition announced that it will hold debates in Spokane, Redmond, Tacoma, Seattle and Pasco this fall.

“All Washingtonians should have an opportunity to participate in civic discussions and have access to candidates seeking some of the highest offices in our state,” says Diane Douglas, executive director of Seattle CityClub, the founder of the Coalition.

Gonzaga University, Washington State University-Spokane, Eastern Washington University, Community Colleges of Spokane (Spokane), Microsoft (Redmond), Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma), Seattle University (Seattle), Columbia Basin College, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), Tri-City Herald, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Visit Tri-Cities (Pasco) and University of Washington (Seattle) will host a debate for Governor or U.S. Senator in their communities.

“Gonzaga University is honored to partner with our regional higher education colleagues to host a 2016 gubernatorial or senatorial debate as part of the inaugural Washington State Debate Coalition,” said Dr. Thayne McCulloh, Gonzaga University president. “As a Catholic, Jesuit university, our educational mission is, in part, to foster an environment where students and our community can experience a wide range of ideas, seek truth that promotes justice and actively participate in the betterment of our society. Hosting a non-partisan debate of future leaders of our region and country contributes to the fulfillment of this mission.”

Coalition leaders weighed applications representing over 20 organizations across the state. The organizations included urban and rural Washington; eastern, western and central Washington; collaborations between educational institutions, business organizations and community groups. The selected sites reflect the population concentration of where Washington voters live.

“For Pacific Lutheran University, a major debate will headline a campaign season on campus that will include a student-led voter registration drive and a dialogue series focused on a wide variety of election issues, including gender, immigration, K-12 education and economic justice. For the Parkland, Spanaway and South Tacoma area that Pacific Lutheran University calls home, the impact of a debate of this magnitude being hosted in an often overlooked, yet richly diverse section of the South Sound region will surely be profound,” said Thomas K. Krise, Pacific Lutheran University president.

Debate dates and races will be assigned to individual sites this summer. Four of the debates will be live broadcast by the Coalition’s media partners immediately following the U.S. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates on September 26, October 4, October 9 and October 19.

Seattle CityClub founded the Coalition of civic leaders, nonpartisan organizations, colleges and universities and media partners earlier this year to enhance citizens’ access to high quality, nonpartisan and informative political debates.