Andy Ellis for Governor Campaign Launches Petition to Open Debates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2025
Andy Ellis for Governor Campaign Launches Petition to Open Debates
Contact: Andy Ellis, andy@gogreen2026.com, (240) 285-0843
Baltimore, MD - Andy Ellis, 2026 candidate for Governor of Maryland, has launched an online petition calling on Maryland Public Television (MPT) to open all televised gubernatorial debates to all candidates who are ballot-qualified for that election, including third party and independent candidates.
MPT’s current editorial standards require an arbitrary polling target as a requirement for participation by ballot-qualified candidates. The Andy Ellis for Governor campaign is calling on MPT to drop this requirement.
“MPT is a taxpayer-funded agency of the State of Maryland, but its current editorial standards place its thumb on the scales in support of Democratic and Republican candidates,” said Ellis. “MPT claims that its editorial decisions are guided by the public interest. If the public interest were truly of the highest importance, MPT would drop its exclusionary requirements and invite all candidates who have qualified for the ballot to share their visions with the people of Maryland.”
The Andy Ellis for Governor campaign held its public launch announcement on Saturday, January 4 at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis. Dozens of supporters braved cold temperatures to hear Ellis and campaign representatives speak on the campaign’s priorities. Ellis has established a campaign committee and is planning to file his candidacy for the 2026 gubernatorial race within the next few months.
As it works to promote Ellis’ candidacy and vision for Maryland, the campaign will continue to pressure MPT to change its editorial standards as 2026 gubernatorial debate plans are developed.
Complete text of the petition:
We, the undersigned, ask that Maryland Public Television open televised debates to all Gubernatorial candidates who will be on the general election ballot for Maryland voters. Presently, the arbitrary criteria for debate participation is undemocratic and runs contrary to your mission statement that Maryland Public Television “enriches lives and strengthens all communities through the power of media.” Barring independent voices from debating impedes your viewers from hearing a diverse set of ideas and is undemocratic.
Furthermore, it is an egregious violation of public interest that Maryland Public Television uses tax dollars collected from voters – voters who are prevented from hearing from independent candidates by an arbitrary editorial policy.
In conclusion, we, the undersigned, ask that you change the Maryland Public Television editorial policy to immediately open the debates for all Gubernatorial candidates who will appear on voters’ ballots in November of 2026.
For more information:
Andy Ellis for Governor website: http://gogreen2026.com
Press kit: https://www.gogreen2026.com/press-kit
Contact: Andy Ellis, andy@gogreen2026.com, (240) 285-0843