Maryland Bill Would Require Publicly Funded Debates to Include All Ballot-Qualified Candidates

A new bill introduced for Maryland’s 2026 legislative session would require publicly funded broadcasters to include all ballot-qualified candidates in statewide election debates, opening debate access for third party and independent candidates.

House Bill 101, which was pre-filed last October by Democratic Del. Gary Simmons, received its first reading in the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14 and was assigned to the House Government, Labor and Elections Committee, as well as a secondary referral to the Appropriations Committee. While the bill has not yet received a hearing date, it is designated as an emergency measure and would take effect immediately upon enactment if approved by both chambers of the Maryland legislature.

Under the language of Simmons’ proposal, any public broadcaster that receives state funds and holds a debate for a statewide office would be required to invite all candidates certified to appear on the general election ballot. Debate participation could not be conditioned on polling thresholds, partisan affiliation, or campaign fundraising numbers. Write-in candidates and candidates who have suspended or terminated their campaigns would be excluded from the requirement.

The legislation also includes enforcement provisions if such candidates are not included. If a public broadcaster were to hold a debate in violation of the bill’s requirements, it would be barred from using or receiving state funds for the remainder of the fiscal year. In that event, the legislation further directs the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission to seek an amended appropriation to reallocate any remaining funds to other programs with the governor’s final approval.

Current debate participation rules used by Maryland Public Television require third party and independent candidates to demonstrate a minimum level of voter support through public polling conducted by what the network describes as “an established, reliable, nonpartisan” source. Under those guidelines, candidates must poll at 3% to participate in primary debates and 10% to qualify for general election debates. The policy also allows for consideration of prior vote totals earned by a candidate in previous statewide or countywide elections as an additional measure of support.

In a recent statement to the Baltimore Sun, which first covered House Bill 101 this week, Simmons said his legislation is intended to improve voter access to information by ensuring that all ballot-qualified candidates are presented to the public. He argued that the current process relies too heavily on party loyalty and excluding candidates from debates “mutes” the ability of voters to compare candidates and make informed choices in general elections.

The Sun writes that the proposal has also drawn support from Andy Ellis, a 2026 gubernatorial candidate running as a member of the Green Party. Ellis argued that publicly funded debates should include all ballot-qualified candidates, as they serve as one of the few platforms where voters can compare campaigns directly. He also suggested that the inclusion of third party candidates could alter debate dynamics by making it more difficult for major-party nominees to mischaracterize their opponents.

The report further noted that Mike Scott, the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024, raised similar concerns about exclusion from televised debates during his campaign.