Data: Commission on Presidential Debates/Axios Research; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios
Women have historically not been awarded the first debate moderator slot, even though more women have been selected to moderate debates in recent history.
The state of play: The one exception is Barbara Walters of ABC News, who moderated the first presidential debate in 1984 between Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democratic former Vice President Walter Mondale.
- In the past five cycles, women have been awarded the Vice Presidential debate moderator slot, but only three women — Martha Raddatz of ABC News, Candy Crowley of CNN, and Kristen Welker of NBC News— have been awarded a presidential debate moderator position.
- An all-female panel moderated the November 20th Democratic primary debate — only the third time that's happened in U.S. history, per Vox.
