The Commission on Presidential Debates, founded in 1987, has always had two co-chairs, one of whom was a current or former high-ranking officer of the Democratic Party, and the other was a current or former high-ranking officer of the Republican Party.

But in January 2017, that changed. The co-chair associated with the Democratic Party, Mike McCurry, left the Commission and was replaced by Dorothy S. Ridings, who has never been a party officer in any political party. She is 80 and lives in Louisville, Kentucky. In the past she was Chair of the Council on Foundations, and long ago she was the national head of the League of Women Voters. The Commission did not issue any press release when this change was made. Thanks to IVN and Nick Bolelli for this news.