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 Thieves pulled off a daring jewel heist at the Louvre. The penny is still with us, but the headache has already arrived. After nearby strikes, US Embassy warns Americans. Well, it was a good day for sea otters, thanks to Taylor Swift. Report an error