Politics | Election 2016 Johnson, Stein Don't Make Debate Cutoff Only Clinton, Trump have been invited to participate in first debate By Evann Gastaldo Posted Sep 16, 2016 2:42 PM CDT Copied Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson reacts as his microphone stops working during a campaign rally, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Scott Morgan) Neither Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson nor Green Party candidate Jill Stein is eligible for the first presidential debate, Politico reports. In order to be invited to the debate, a candidate must be polling at 15%. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday that Johnson is polling at an average of 8.4% and Stein at 3.2%, so only Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have been invited to participate in the Sept. 26 debate. In addition, Johnson's and Stein's running mates are not eligible for the vice presidential debate Oct. 4. Johnson and Stein will have two more chances to get their poll numbers up in time for the second and third presidential debates. Read These Next A government shutdown could mean permanent layoffs. FCC chief gets crushed by cat litter in new South Park. Retirement savings catch-up plans are about to change. Judge demands answers from Trump administration on Mangione comments. Report an error