The Race to Qualify for the Second GOP Presidential Nomination Debate
The clock is ticking for the Republican White House candidates as they strive to secure a spot on the stage for Wednesday’s second GOP presidential nomination debate. They have until 9 p.m. ET Monday to meet the polling and donor thresholds set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) in order to qualify for the debate hosted by FOX Business and Univision at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s Determination
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum remains determined that his campaign will not be derailed if he fails to qualify for the debate. His Republican White House campaign, along with an allied super PAC, has made strategic investments over the past week to increase his national profile. Despite being relatively unknown outside of North Dakota, Burgum is making every effort to secure a place on the debate stage.
RNC Raises the Bar for Candidates
The RNC, responsible for organizing the GOP presidential primary debates, has raised the thresholds that candidates must meet to qualify for the second debate. In order to participate, each candidate must have a minimum of 50,000 unique donors, including 200 donors from at least 20 states. Additionally, they must achieve at least 3% support in national polls or a combination of 3% in one national poll and 3% in two polls conducted in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina.
Pledge and Requirements
Furthermore, candidates are required to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee and agree to refrain from participating in any non-RNC-sanctioned debates for the remainder of the 2024 election cycle. They must also agree to share data with the national party committee.
Candidates Who Have Qualifed
A number of candidates have already met the RNC’s criteria and are set to participate in the second debate. These include former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former ambassador and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, biotech entrepreneur and political commentator Vivek Ramaswamy, and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Notable Candidates Trying to Qualify
Former President Donald Trump, who surpassed the donor and polling thresholds, did not sign the RNC’s pledge and has already made alternative plans for Wednesday night. However, several candidates who did not qualify for the first debate are now striving to make the stage for the second debate. These include businessman Perry Johnson, former CIA agent and former Representative Will Hurd of Texas, and former radio host Larry Elder, who was a candidate in California’s 2021 gubernatorial recall election.
As the days count down, these candidates face increasing pressure to meet the requirements and secure their spots on the debate stage. The second debate is seen as a crucial opportunity for them to make their case to voters, as a lot has happened since the first debate. Will they be able to qualify and continue their quest for the Republican presidential nomination? The answer will be revealed soon.
