The Debate Schedule:

Prior to the first primary date, political parties can schedule debate times and locations as they see fit.

Once voting has started, a debate should occur among remaining candidates every two weeks until a candidate has won the total delegates necessary to secure the nomination OR all primaries have occurred.  Using the 2020 primary calendar as an example, the appropriate windows of opportunity for each scheduled debate will be:

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                  2020    

3 states      Feb 4     

     Schedule a debate within Feb 13-15

3 states     Feb 18   

     Schedule a debate within Feb 27-29

6 states       Mar 3   

     Schedule a debate within Mar 12-14

3 states      Mar 17  

3 states      Mar 24

     Schedule a debate within Mar 26-28

6 states       Apr 7 

     Schedule a debate within Apr 9-11

3 states      Apr 21

     Schedule a debate within Apr 23-25

3 states      Apr 28

6 states       May 5

     Schedule a debate within May 7-9

6 states      May 12

8 states      May 19

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This pre-set debate schedule ensures that, throughout the time that the active candidate pool is dwindling, continued public debate will occur among the remaining candidates.  This will provide a needed and beneficial forum for direct comparison of those candidates so that voters in the next states can be appropriately informed at each stage of the process.  Until the nomination is fully secured, candidates cannot legitimately avoid debates.