
Thank you!
For joining the 2022 Washington State Debate Coalition.
Watch full debates from this election season below and learn more about our mission to bring free, public debates to the voters of Washington State.
Watch the 2022 Debates
2022 U.S. Senate candidate forum: Patty Murray & Tiffany Smiley
8th Congressional District: Matt Larkin & Kim Schrier
9th Congressional District debate: Doug Basler & Adam Smith
Washington State’s 26th LD Candidate Debate: Emily Randall & Jesse L. Young
Washington State Secretary of State Debate: Julie Anderson & Steve Hobbs
About
The WA State Debate Coalition (WSDC) was founded in 2016 by Seattle CityClub and has served thousands of live debate attendees and over 3 million people through broadcast, print and online platforms. The WSDC is a public service made possible through the joint efforts of civic leaders, nonpartisan organizations, civic groups, colleges and universities, donors, sponsors, and a strong group of media partners.
All Coalition members are committed to ensuring free, public access to live, moderated debates between candidates holding and/or seeking elected office. This program demonstrates Seattle CityClub’s commitment to providing civic information, fostering civil, non-partisan engagement and enabling access to candidates for statewide offices such as Governor, Attorney General, and U.S. Senate.
An Annual Seattle CityClub Commitment
As part of Seattle CityClub’s 2021 Dialogue Across Differences initiative, local or state-wide debates will be held annually, according to the needs of the community. Thank you to our generous supporters for helping the WSDC address polarization through civil, public debate.
2022 Press Release >>
Frequently Asked Questions >>
WSDC Media Coverage >>

PRESS RELEASE: WASHINGTON STATE DEBATE COALITION STATEMENT REGARDING SCHEDULED U.S. SENATE DEBATES
October 14, 2021
Please join our mailing list to be the first to learn about debates and Seattle CityClub’s other civic programming.
Join the Coalition
Committee |
Role |
Steering Committee | Leads the strategy and implementation of the WSDC which functions as cabinet of sub-committee chairs. Nathan Hambley serves as our 2022 Chair. |
Media Relations Sub-Committee | Builds ongoing relationships with media partners and maintains communication with all media and external audiences. |
Outreach/Education Sub-Committee | Guides outreach and collaboration across the state with civic organizations and ensures |
Does your organization believe that making public debates available to all voters is crucial to a functioning democracy? Click the button below and share why you want to become a member:

Expanding Across the Nation
In 2019, the Washington State Debate Coalition partnered with Indiana, Ohio , and Utah to create state debate commissions to create the State Debate Coalition, which collaborates on state-wide debates and promotes the creation of state debate commission across the country.
DEI Commitment
We are committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In all debates, we are integrating five elements to maximize access and inclusion:
Distance – Shrinking the physical distance between communities and those that represent them so the people can hold elected officials accountable.
Discussion – Ensuring the topics of conversation and contestation reflect the needs of diverse communities.
Design – Recognizing that what it means to “debate” sounds different to different cultures and creating the spaces to recognize that plurality.
Debrief – Ensuring we have diverse perspectives contextualizing the conversation for our audiences.
Resources – Supplementing the debates with educational resources that respect different backgrounds.
Presenting Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors
Puget Sound Energy
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Premier Media Partners








Supporting Media Partners
710 ESPN Seattle | Kirkland Reporter | Redmond Reporter |
Arlington Times/Marysville Globe | Kitsap Military Times | Renton Reporter |
Auburn Reporter | Kitsap Weekly | Seattle Weekly |
Bainbridge Island Review | KNKX | Sequim Weekly |
Bellevue Reporter | KXLY TV | Sequim Gazette |
Bothell/Kenmore Reporter | KPQ 560 AM | Snoqualmie Valley Record |
Bremerton Patriot/Central Kitsap Reporter | KREM | South Beach Bulletin |
Converge Media | KSPS-TV | South Seattle Emerald |
Covington/Maple Valley/Black Diamond Reporter | KTTH | South Whidbey Record |
Eastside Scene Magazine | La Raza 102.3/107.1 | Tacoma Daily Index |
Federal Way Mirror | Mercer Island Reporter | Tacoma News Tribune |
Forks Forum | NCWLIFE TV, Wenatchee | The Olympian |
Homes – Land Islander | Newsradio 610 KONA | The Peninsula Gateway |
Homes – Land Olympic Peninsula | North Coast News | Tri-City Herald |
Islands’ Sounder | North Kitsap Herald | Tukwila Reporter |
Islands’ Weekly | Northwest Asian Weekly | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber |
Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter | Northwest Publishing Inc. | Wenatchee World |
Journal of the San Juan Islands | Northwest Progressive Institute | Whidbey Crosswind |
KAPP-KVEW | Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune | Whidbey News-Times |
Kent Reporter | Peninsula Daily News | Whidbey TMC |
KHQ | Port Orchard Independent | |
Kingston Community News | Rainier Avenue Radio | |
Education Partners
American Forensic Association | Olympic College |
Bellevue College | Pacific Lutheran University |
Big Bend Community College | Seattle University |
College Success Foundation | South Puget Sound Community College |
Eastern Washington University | Spokane Falls Community College |
Gonzaga University | The Evergreen State College |
Independent Colleges of Washington | University of Washington |
Lower Columbia College | Washington State University |
Northwest University | Washington State University Foundation |
Western Washington University | |
Whitworth University |
Civic & Community Partners
African Community Housing & Development | Leadership Tomorrow |
Association of WA Business in Olympic | Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle |
Bellingham City Club | sea.citi |
CAIR Washington | Seattle Chamber of Commerce |
Center for Women & Democracy | Seattle Foundation |
City Club of Tacoma | Seattle/King County NAACP |
Columbia Basin Badger Club | Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce |
Democracy Voucher Program | Slade Gorton International Policy Center |
Downtown Seattle Association | TACID |
Global to Local | UW Impact |
Henry M. Jackson Foundation | Washington Coalition for Open Government |
Washington Legislative Youth Advisory Council | |
Washington Nonprofits |
Advisory Partners
Former Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant
Former Seattle Mayor Tim Burgess Former Seattle City Council Member Sally Clark Former Washington Governor Gary Locke Former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Monro Former Attorney General of Washington Rob McKenna Former Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed |
Contact
For questions about hosting a debate or joining the Washington State Debate Coalition:
Contact: cityclub@seattlecityclub.org.
For media inquiries:
Contact: cityclub@seattlecityclub.org.