The moderators may not have been diverse.

That's the apparent reason why Analilia Mejia declined a League of Women Voters debate with Republican Joe Hathaway.

But was that the whole story?

A statement Sunday night from the League of Women Voters of New Jersey said the debate moderator would have been "a person of color."

It said the problem was that the Mejia campaign wanted to approve the debate moderators in advance and the League would not agree. (Full League statement is below)

The debate squabble has given a surprising - and ironic - jolt to the April 16 special election in CD-11.

It was last Friday that the The League of Women Voters of the Morris Area along with chapters in the Montclair Area, Livingston, and Mountain Lakes said the group was unable to "reach an agreement with Mejia’s campaign and still maintain the League’s nonpartisan debate policy."
This prompted a Saturday statement from Mejia. Here it is:

A free and fair democracy requires truth and transparency. While I appreciate the League of Women Voters and their effort to create spaces of open discourse, I do not believe neutrality and diversity are ever in opposition. As a candidate seeking to represent a district in which over a third of constituents are people of color, I asked the League to commit to diversity among their proposed moderators. Sadly, they were unable to commit. I look forward to engaging them in the future, when both values can be upheld.
It is clear, however, that there is very little, in fact, to debate between my positions and those of my opponent. I am running to uphold the law, protect our communities, and deliver for working families. My opponent, by contrast, has aligned with those who supported the January 6 insurrection and continues to promote policies that undermine our democracy.
The contrast could not be clearer. I believe in expanding affordable housing; my opponent has worked to weaken it. I am fighting to lower healthcare costs at a time when premiums have doubled and over 40,000 New Jersey residents have lost coverage; my opponent supports policies that put care further out of reach.
This election is about fairness, justice, and truth. Voters understand that contrast - and I trust them to make the right choice.

This League debate that isn't happening likely would have been the only one in the CD-11 race, which is to fill the House seat of Mikie Sherrill. The district ranges over parts of Essex, Passaic and Morris counties.

A point of personal privilege here. As someone who has written about politics for a long time, I have often found League debates lacking.

The format is too structured. Moderators are brought in from outside the relevant area to ensure impartiality. Sometimes, however, they are not as knowledgeable about local issues as they should be.

That aside, in recent years, it's been Republicans in some cases who have refused to engage in League debates because they said the League leans left.

Local Leagues, for instance, support next weekend's No Kings rallies and oppose "unchecked ICE enforcement and harm."

Now, we have a left wing Democrat declining a League debate because of concerns about diversity.

If nothing else, politics continues to be surprising.

One man who saw Mejia's statement was Hathaway. And he came up with a counter offer.

He says Mejia can choose the moderators.

"What matters is showing up for the people we’re asking to represent. I’ll be there, unafraid."

Here is the full statement released Sunday night by the League.

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey released the following statement on behalf of Jennifer M. Howard, MD, MPH, FACOG, President of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey:
"The League of Women Voters of the Morris Area, the League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area, the League of Women Voters of Livingston, and the League of Women Voters of Mountain Lakes proposed a debate for the candidates running in a special election for Congress in District 11.
Just as we did for the special primary election Meet & Greet, the proposed general election debate was planned to engage a diverse audience that reflects all communities in District 11. The planned moderator was a League trained professional and a person of color. This moderator would have asked questions taken directly from CD 11 voters ahead of the debate and from the audience during the forum. We were asked to provide a campaign with a list of potential moderators for approval. This is a request that the League of Women Voters cannot accommodate. Our nonpartisan stance does not permit a candidate to influence the selection of the moderator.
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in principle and practice. We also stand firmly in our nonpartisan policies. We believe in a representative multiracial democracy where every voter feels empowered to participate, and in our forums, we strive to reflect that vision: inclusive in reach, nonpartisan in process. Our member volunteers run candidate forums at every level of office across New Jersey, and we are grateful for their service.
We look forward to continuing that work and remain committed to serving New Jersey voters.

Please consider becoming a member and a trained League moderator to help us continue this vital service. Visit lwvnj.org to learn more about our mission, vision, and values.

Morris County Republican Chairwoman Laura Ali issued the following statement regarding the CD11 congressional race and Democratic nominee Analilia Mejia’s refusal to participate in a debate:

“For years, I have advised Republican candidates to carefully consider participation in League of Women Voters debates due to concerns about perceived bias.

"However, it is truly telling that the Democratic nominee for Congress, Analilia Mejia, who aligns herself with socialist policies and is backed by some of the most progressive voices in national politics, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has now decided that even the League is not liberal or progressive enough for her to engage.
That statement alone should give voters in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District serious pause.

"At a time when Morris County families and businesses are focused on affordability, public safety, and strong local leadership, voters deserve a representative grounded in common-sense solutions and the practical needs of this district...not one driven by far-left ideology.

"I encourage all voters to take a close look at Republican candidate Joe Hathaway ahead of the Special Election on April 16. Joe is a resourceful, hardworking, common-sense leader who will represent all residents of CD11 with integrity and dedication.”