Republican Party Releases Presidential Candidate Requirements For First 2024 Primary Debate 2023

The Republican National Committee announced Friday the polling and financial requirements for GOP presidential contenders to participate in Fox News’ August primary debate.

Republican presidential hopefuls must vow to support the GOP nominee to debate.

The RNC scheduled the first debate for August 23. “Should enough candidates qualify to make it necessary, there will be a second debate on August 24,” the national party committee stated.

Candidates must obtain 1% in three nationwide polls or two national surveys and a poll in one of the GOP presidential nominating calendar’s four early voting states—Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada—to qualify.

The RNC must approve the surveys on or after July 1 and at least 48 hours before the first debate.

Candidates must have 40,000 unique donations to their campaign committee (or exploratory committee) and “at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20+ states and/or territories” to reach the debate state.

RNC candidates must provide financing statistics 48 hours before the first debate.

Republican presidential candidates from left, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and John Kasich take the stage for the first Republican presidential debate in Cleveland on August 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Candidates must also swear to support the ultimate Republican presidential nominee, not participate in any non-RNC-sanctioned debates for the rest of the 2024 election cycle, and share data with the national party committee.

“The RNC is committed to a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process and the qualifying criteria set forth will put our party and eventual nominee in the best position to take back the White House come November 2024,” RNC chair Ronna McDaniel stated.

Former President Donald Trump leads Republican presidential nomination polls. Trump’s third presidential bid began in November.

Last week’s candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is second in polls. Former ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, former two-term Arkansas Gov.

Asa Hutchinson, multimillionaire entrepreneur and conservative commentator Vivek Ramaswamy, Michigan businessman Perry Johnson, and conservative radio host and former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder are also running.

Who’s in and who’s out in the 2024 GOP presidential nomination race?

Pence, Christie, and Burgum are slated to begin campaigns next week. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and former Texas Reps. Will Hurd and Mike Rogers are also considering 2024 runs.

The new requirements, which some contenders may struggle to fulfill, are intended to avoid the crowded and volatile 2016 Republican presidential primary battle.

Eight years ago, the RNC only debated the top 10 polling candidates, with supplemental debates for the others.

I’ll satisfy any debate stage requirements. Republican presidential contender and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson told Fox News it’s crucial.

“Whenever you set a requirement that you support the party nominee, I would have preferred it simply say you pledge not to run as a third party candidate,” Hutchinson said.

“The other challenge is for some of the candidates 40,000 donors,” he noted. That will hurt campaigners and nationalists. 40,000 donors shows a dedicated effort to develop online donations, while some politicians prefer to spend in other methods to reach voters.”

Rumble will live-stream the first discussion, which Fox News will exclusively air. Young America’s Foundation co-hosts the first debate.

Trump campaigns in Iowa.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, former US President Donald Trump meets local Republican officials at the Machine Shed restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa.

Trump came to the state on Wednesday for a series of engagements and interviews, including a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity airing today. Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Trump has often threatened to skip the first debate.

“When you’re high, you don’t debate. “If you’re even or down, you do debates, but when you’re way up, what’s the purpose of doing the debate?” the former president said on WABC radio in late April.

On Friday, Republican Trump critic Hutchinson told Fox News that “every candidate for president outght to be on the debate stage.” They should be able to address harsh public and media queries. He’ll arrive. But he’ll probably alter his mind two or three times before the debate.”

New Hampshire political reporter Paul Steinhauser.