The first Republican debate of 2023 happens tonight. Here’s what to know
BY CAROLINE LINTON
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WDEF) — The stage is set for the first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential contest, with eight candidates on stage who have met the Republican National Committee’s qualifications. The GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, announced on social media Sunday that he would skip it.
The debate is taking place in Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, a critical battleground state that Trump flipped in 2016 but President Biden flipped back in 2020. The 2024 Republican National Convention will also be held in Milwaukee.
This first debate comes just under four months before the Iowa caucus on Jan. 15, the first nominating contest of the primary season. A CBS News poll released Sunday showed that despite four separate indictments, Trump now has his largest lead so far in the race.
Among likely Republican primary voters, Trump led with 62%, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, way behind with 16% support. The rest of the candidates were in single digits.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Who has qualified and what were the qualifications?
The RNC said late Monday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina all qualified for the debate.
The RNC required that candidates reach at least 1% in multiple eligible polls, gather at least 40,000 donors and sign a pledge committing to support the ultimate GOP nominee and promising not to participate in debates not sanctioned by the party, including the general election debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Christie, who was once a strong Trump supporter but has since turned against him, has previously criticized the RNC’s use of a loyalty pledge. Trump says he won’t sign it.
“Why would I sign it?” Trump said in an interview on the conservative cable network Newsmax. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem.”
What happened to Doug Burgum?
Burgum was injured during a pick-up basketball game with his staff Tuesday and was taken to an emergency room in Milwaukee, on the eve of the first Republican presidential primary debate, according to a source familiar with his injury and a campaign source.
Burgum’s injury may have an effect on his debate plans Wednesday night. He will be going to the debate walk-through and, according to the source, “hopefully” will be able to participate.
“He has every intention of doing everything he can do to be there and will be at the walk-through today,” the source said.
Why is Trump skipping the debate?
Although Trump didn’t make it official until Sunday, he has been hinting he wouldn’t participate. He explained on Truth Social Sunday why he wasn’t going.
Citing the CBS News poll, Trump said he had “legendary” polling numbers and “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
Trump taped an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and he posted on Truth Social that it will air around 9 p.m. ET. It’s unclear where it will air, although the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, is a possibility, since Carlson launched a show on X soon after he left Fox News.
Where is the debate being broadcast and who are the moderators?
The two-hour debate is being hosted by and broadcast on Fox News at 9 p.m. ET. Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate.
What topics are expected to be discussed?
MacCallum told Fox News earlier this week that she will be asking candidates to share “what they would do to make the country better.”
“We really want people to walk away from the debate on Wednesday night feeling like they can have a better sense of all these people and maybe their eyes are open to one or two of them that they want to hear more from. I think that’s honestly, that’s the main goal, is to move this process forward in a way that people feel is edifying and that they are more interested in the morning after on Thursday,” MacCallum said.
MacCallum told TVNewser that abortion and the U.S. role in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion are among the topics she would like to discuss.
A CBS News polling analysis on likely GOP primary voters found that on the topic of abortion, that plans to stop abortions ranked the lowest in importance of any policy goal they were asked about. Other policies, like plans to lower inflation, stop immigration and reduce violent crime were at the top.
What is the 2024 primary debate schedule?
The next debate is set to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
Will the Democrats be holding debates?
The Democrats are currently not planning to hold any debates. No incumbent president has participated in a party debate since Gerald Ford in 1976 (Ford was the only person to become president without having won a general election for the presidency or vice presidency).
President Biden is currently being challenged by two Democrats, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson, neither of whom have ever held elected office.
