Saying the Commission on Presidential Debates has not addressed issues that threaten its impartiality, the Republican National Committee is moving forward with plans to block future GOP presidential nominees from participating in CPD-sponsored debates.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel sent a letter to the commission Thursday saying the party’s concerns “strike at the core of whether the CPD credibly can provide a fair and impartial forum for presidential debates.”

“The RNC has a duty to ensure that its future presidential nominees have the opportunity to debate their opponents on a level playing field,” McDaniel wrote. “So long as the CPD appears intent on stonewalling the meaningful reforms necessary to restore its credibility with the Republican Party as a fair and nonpartisan actor, the RNC will take every step to ensure that future Republican presidential nominees are given that opportunity elsewhere.”

McDaniel said the RNC will begin the process of amending its rules at its upcoming winter meeting to prohibit nominees from agreeing to participate in debates organized by the nonpartisan CPD.

The letter is the latest exchange between the two organizations dating back to last March, when the RNC first aired its grievances about how the commission handled the 2020 debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

McDaniel has criticized the CPD for holding the first presidential debate after eight states already had opened early voting and absentee voting was underway in 26 states.

She also accused the CPD of making “unilateral changes to previously agreed-upon formats and conditions,” citing the commission’s decision to switch the Oct. 15 debate from an in-person format to a virtual one. The CPD attempted to change the format for the second of the three debates over health concerns — Trump had recently been released from the hospital after being treated for COVID-19. Trump refused to participate in the virtual debate, which was eventually canceled.

The RNC also has attacked the commission over its vetting process and for missing what she called “obvious conflicts of interest.” She noted that C-SPAN’s Steve Scully, who had been scheduled to moderate the canceled Oct. 15 debate, was once an intern for Biden. The party also has complained about CPD board members making public comments disparaging Trump.

In a June letter, McDaniel included a list of recommendations for changes the RNC wants to see the commission adopt, including:

• Setting term limits for its Board of Directors
  
• Enacting a code of conduct that prohibits CPD officers, directors and staff from making public comments supporting or opposing any candidate or otherwise engaging in partisan political activity
• Committing to hosting at least one debate prior to the start of early voting in any state
• Establishing transparent criteria for selecting moderators and disqualifying individuals who have any appearance of bias.

McDaniel also has called on the commission to allow major parties to send a nonvoting observer to attend its board meetings.

The RNC chairwoman said in her letter Thursday that the CPD’s latest response lacked the tone or substance to suggest it “will meaningfully address” her concerns.

According to McDaniel, the CPD said in a Dec. 14 letter to her that it answers to no political party or candidate” and “does not negotiate the terms or conditions of (its) operations with anyone.” The commission said it will consider the issues raised while it conducts its internal review but offered no firm commitments for reform, McDaniel said.

In a statement given to Spectrum News, the CPD said it “deals directly with candidates for President and Vice President who qualify for participation in the CPD’s general election debates. The CPD’s plans for 2024 will be based on fairness, neutrality and a firm commitment to help the American public learn about the candidates and the issues.”

McDaniel wrote in her letter that the RNC is pressing for changes now because there won’t be enough time for its future nominee to have such dialogue between his or her nomination and the first debate.

It’s not clear what it would mean if the GOP follows through on its boycott threat. Before the commission was founded in 1987, parties or campaigns negotiated the terms of presidential and vice-presidential debates directly.