Kevin Sauter, a professor emeritus at the University of St. Thomas who specializes in political communication, spoke with KARE 11 about the changing role of political debates as Minnesota’s 2026 campaigns move forward. Sauter discussed how debates can provide voters with side-by-side comparisons of candidates, even as audiences increasingly encounter key moments through social media clips rather than traditional broadcasts.
From the story:
Still, Dr. Kevin Sauter, a professor emeritus at the University of St. Thomas who specializes in political communication, said he believes debates still have a role to play.
“You go back to one of the most famous debates in Minnesota history when Skip Humphrey, Norm Coleman and Jesse Ventura debated. If it wouldn’t have been for that debate I don’t think Jesse would have had any chance to run to the governorship,” Sauter said. “These are important moments and can really propel someone forward. How much do they move the needle on races? It’s generally pretty limited unless we find something that really stands out, like someone switches a position, someone says something wrong.”
With the current social media culture, the stakes can be extremely high, with one misstep or misspoken word leading to a viral moment that can undo a campaign. At the same time, a strong performance or viral takedown of an opponent can still raise a candidate’s profile, even if consumed through a clip rather than on linear television.
