Seven candidates qualify for the second GOP presidential debate

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Republican presidential candidates participate in the first presidential primary debate. Associated Press/Photo by Morry Gash

Seven candidates qualify for the second GOP presidential debate

The Republican National Committee on Monday said the presidential hopefuls met polling and donor requirements to participate in the debate on Wednesday night. The committee invited candidates performing near the top of the polls, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum also qualified. The candidates will face off Wednesday in Simi Valley, Calif., at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The debate will be broadcast by Fox Business and Univision while livestreamed on Rumble.

Who is missing the debate? Former President Donald Trump, who has led the GOP candidates in the polls so far, is skipping the debate in favor of visiting striking auto workers in Detroit. Trump did not attend the first RNC debate and has refused to sign the convention’s loyalty pledge to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who qualified for the first debate, did not qualify for Wednesday’s event.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Stew about meeting with evangelical voters in Iowa.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.