Moving public debate toward positive change.

We provide campaigns, organizations, and leaders with strategic argumentation expertise that turns public debate into meaningful dialogue—helping voters see real choices, not just talking points.

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Our Core Principles

• Always Make Arguments - Clash is Key
Effective public discourse requires direct engagement with opposing viewpoints rather than talking past opponents. We train candidates and advocates to seek out argumentative clash, engage with the strongest opposing arguments, and use distinctions to clarify choices for voters.
• Understand Your Opponent's Best Arguments
What we call "argumentative empathy" - the ability to understand and articulate your opponent's strongest case before countering it. This approach prevents straw man attacks and demonstrates substantive engagement that voters respect.
• Answers to Questions are the Means of Getting People to Pay Attention
Strategic question-and-answer development is the foundation of political messaging. Well-crafted responses to anticipated questions become the vehicle for delivering core arguments across debates, interviews, town halls, and media appearances.

Our Strategic Services

Strategic Assessment Packages

Comprehensive analysis of your argumentative strengths, opponent vulnerabilities, and strategic opportunities. From foundational assessments to full strategic partnerships with implementation support.

Ongoing Debate Coaching For Candidates

Continuous strategic support with weekly coaching sessions, message refinement, rapid response preparation, and exclusive access to our proprietary "Argument & Answers" app.

Public Debate & Forum Facilitation

Expert moderation services for organizations hosting policy debates and community forums. We use structured argumentation techniques to elevate discourse quality and surface meaningful distinctions.

Custom Apps and Tools

Our Apps and tools give you what you need to work with your team to manage your arguments and answers

Workshops for Candidates and Campaigns

Training workshops designed to sharpen debate and argument skills. Fun and interactive sessions utilizing our unique framework.

Our Events

We organize and host our own public events designed to demonstrate our approach to constructive public debate. A combination of online and in person, our events highlight the theory, practice, and history of our approach to political argument.

About Andy Ellis

Andy Ellis blends three worlds—championship debate coaching, third-party politics, and strategic leadership—to help advocates and candidates win arguments that matter. As the coach who led Towson University to its first national debate championship and a recipient of the Cross Examination Debate Association's Public Advocate Award, he's built a proven framework for changing the narrative through public argument.

In politics, Andy has been in the arena himself—running for governor as a Green Party candidate, advising breakthrough campaigns, and leading grassroots coalitions that win against the odds, including defeating Baltimore's first ballot initiative in two decades. He knows the pressure of the big stage and how to prepare for it.

Before founding Debate Strategies LLC, Andy spent over a decade designing solutions and leading projects that turned complex problems into actionable results. Now, he brings that same focus to campaigns and organizations, combining the clarity of debate, the vision of political change, and the discipline to get things done.

Andy Ellis, Strategic Argument Lead

Unique Expertise Combination:

  • 2008 National Championship Debate Coach
  • 10+ Years Corporate Strategic Operations
  • Experience as a Candidate and on Campaigns
  • 2025 CEDA Public Advocate Award Recipient
  • Baltimore for Democracy Coalition Chair

Ready to Make Your Case And Change the Game?

Whether you're an underdog candidate looking to shift the narrative or an organization seeking expert debate facilitation, we're here to help you succeed in the public argument.

Get Started

Email andy@debatestrategies.com to learn more or inquire about our services.