Iowa Press Debates Primary Election Criteria

A candidate for federal or state office will be invited to participate in an Iowa PBS debate or forum produced and broadcast by Iowa PBS for the 2026 primary election if the candidate can meet the following criteria:

• The candidate has been qualified by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office for a place on the primary election ballot. Candidate must still maintain the official qualification by Iowa Secretary of State’s Office on debate broadcast day.
• The candidate has made public position statements on at least three (3) issues, substantially in the form of press releases, campaign brochures, speeches or similar statements made publicly or on a campaign website.
• The candidate has received more than incidental press coverage in at least five (5) bona fide print, online, radio, television or cable TV news stories that identify individual as a candidate for the current election.

The deadline for candidates to demonstrate they meet Iowa PBS’s criteria for a debate or forum is 4 p.m. CT on the day that is 21 calendar days prior to the day of the scheduled debate or forum. Iowa PBS has sole discretion in determining the primaries for which it will produce and broadcast a debate or forum. Iowa PBS reserves the right to cancel any scheduled program.

For more information about Iowa PBS’ candidate criteria, please contact candidatecriteria@iowapbs.org.