GOP primary debate: 8 candidates qualify
First GOP presidential primary debate is Wednesday at Fiserv Forum
First GOP presidential primary debate is Wednesday at Fiserv Forum
First GOP presidential primary debate is Wednesday at Fiserv Forum
Eight Republican presidential hopefuls will appear on the debate stage Wednesday night in Milwaukee, officials with the Republican National Committee announced late Monday night.
The candidates include:
- North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum
- Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Ambassador Nikki Haley
- Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
- Former Vice President Mike Pence
- Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
- South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican primary front-runner, announced Sunday he wouldn't attend the debate despite meeting the RNC requirements.
Monday night's announcement caps off a last-ditch effort by several candidates claiming to have met the RNC's criteria, including businessman Perry Johnson and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
"There are a couple of candidates that are really on the bubble right now," RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Friday in a taping for "UPFRONT." "We're treating every candidate the same. We are neutral. We are fair, and everyone is abiding by the same rules to make that debate stage, and they're going to have to meet that criteria, and they're going to have until Monday evening to do so."
Candidates had to meet certain polling benchmarks, 40,000 unique donors and sign a pledge promising to support the eventual Republican nominee.
"Look, people have their reasons to debate or not debate," Brian Schimming said regarding Trump, the chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. "I think everyone would agree he's well ahead right now, so it's not just President Trump, anybody that far ahead would not come and be on the debate stage to let eight or nine people jump all over him. As state chairman, I would love to have him here. I'm not surprised he's not here."
The debate will air from 8-10 p.m. on Fox News Channel.