Title: Seven Republican Candidates Prepare for Second Primary Debate at Reagan Presidential Library
Subtitle: Former President Donald Trump to speak in Detroit as union auto workers strike
By Aaron Navarro
September 22, 2023
California – The Reagan Presidential Library in California will set the stage for the second Republican primary debate on Wednesday night, featuring seven candidates vying for the party’s nomination for president in 2024.
The candidates who met the Republican National Committee’s polling and fundraising requirements to qualify for the debate include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
However, one significant absence will be former President Donald Trump, who currently leads the Republican primary field by a comfortable margin. Instead of attending the debate, Trump will be speaking in Detroit, where Big Three union auto workers are on strike. A recent CBS News poll shows Trump leading in both Iowa and New Hampshire, potentially winning a significant number of delegates in the upcoming primaries.
During the first debate, the candidates were asked whether they would support Trump even if he were convicted of a crime. All but two candidates, Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who will not be participating in the second debate, raised their hands in support.
The debate will be aired on Fox Business Channel and Univision from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and can be streamed on Rumble.
To qualify for the second debate, candidates had to meet higher requirements than the first debate. They needed to poll at 3% in two national polls or 3% in one national poll and 3% in one early state poll from two separate early-voting states – Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina. Additionally, candidates needed a minimum of 50,000 unique donors to their principal presidential campaign committee or exploratory committee, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in more than 20 states and/or territories. This marked an increase of 10,000 unique donors compared to the requirements for the first primary debate.
The debate will be moderated by Stuart Varney and Dana Perino from Fox News, with the participation of Univision’s Ilia Calderón.
Ahead of the debate, one of the candidates, Nikki Haley, criticized Trump’s decision to skip the event, stating that candidates must showcase their plans for the future rather than relying solely on past accomplishments. Haley also highlighted Trump’s failure to sign the Republican National Committee’s “loyalty pledge” to support the nominee who ultimately wins the party’s nomination.
The second Republican primary debate promises to be an important event in shaping the future of the 2024 presidential race. Voters will have the opportunity to assess the candidates’ positions, policies, and plans as they make their case for the party’s nomination.
Note: Cristina Corujo contributed to this report.
About the Author:
Aaron Navarro is a digital reporter covering politics.