The stage is set for the second debate of the Republican presidential primary for the 2024 election. At least six contenders are preparing to face off against each other, discussing key economic and social issues.
Who’s Participating?
The Republican National Committee has yet to release the official list of participants. However, it appears that the following individuals have qualified:
- Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley
- Former Vice President Mike Pence
- Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
- South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott
- Former President Donald Trump
On the other hand, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson do not seem to have qualified at this point.
When and Where to Watch?
Qualification Requirements
The requirements to qualify for this debate are more stringent compared to the first debate. Candidates must have at least 50,000 unique donors and poll at 3% or above in two national polls, or 3% in one national poll combined with 3% in an early-state poll recognized by the Republican National Committee. The deadline to qualify is on Monday.
Trump’s Decision
Similar to the first GOP debate, former President Donald Trump plans to skip this one as well. Instead, he intends to travel to Michigan to meet with striking autoworkers and deliver a primetime speech. During the first debate, Trump also chose an interview with Tucker Carlson over participating in the event.