Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Who's In, Who's Out, and How to Watch Wednesday's 2nd GOP Presidential Debate
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 year ago on
September 26, 2023

Share

The field for the second Republican presidential debate will be smaller than the first.

Second GOP Presidential Debate

When: 6 p.m. PT, Wednesday, Sept. 27

Where to Watch: Fox Business Network, Univision, Rumble

Moderators: Fox hosts Stuart Varney and Dana Perino, Univision’s Ilia Calderón

Seven candidates have qualified for Wednesday night’s debate at Ronald Reagan’s presidential library in California, the Republican National Committee said, confirming that former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not make the cut this time.

Former President Donald Trump, the early Republican presidential front-runner who skipped the first debate, will also be missing from the stage and will instead hold events in the battleground state of Michigan.

To qualify for the second debate, candidates needed at least 3% support in two national polls or 3% in one national poll as well as two polls from four of the early-voting states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.

The White House hopefuls also needed at least 50,000 unique donors, with at least 200 of those coming from 20 states or territories. They also had to sign an RNC pledge promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.

A look at where the candidates stand:

WHO’S IN

Ron DeSantis — The Florida governor had long been seen as the top rival for Trump, finishing a distant second to the current GOP front-runner in both early-voting state and national polls, and raising an impressive amount of money.

But those sands have begun to shift as DeSantis’ effort has struggled to live up to high expectations for his campaign. Republican support for him nationally has slipped substantially from its high point earlier this year.

Tim Scott — The senator from South Carolina did not have a breakout moment in the first debate in Milwaukee and is hoping to change that during Wednesday’s event.

Wanting to be a bigger part of the conversation, Scott asked the party to change how it orders the candidates onstage in an effort to get more prominent podium placement. There is no indication the RNC plans to do that.

Nikki Haley — The only Republican woman on stage — and in the field — Haley experienced a fundraising bounce after her performance in the first debate. Her campaign said she raised at least $1 million in 72 hours, a record period for her.

Two recent polls of her home state of South Carolina found that Haley — a former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor — was in second place, well behind Trump but slightly ahead of other GOP rivals.

During one squabble in the first GOP debate, Haley cut in with a reference to a famous line from Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister: “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”

Vivek Ramaswamy — The political newcomer scored several memorable moments at the first debate, criticizing some rivals as “super PAC puppets” who were using “ready-made, preprepared slogans” to attack him. He was a frequent target of incoming attacks on his lack of experience.

Those jabs helped boost both Ramaswamy’s campaign coffers and his name ID in the broad Republican field.

Chris Christie — The former New Jersey governor opened his campaign by portraying himself as the only candidate ready to take on Trump, calling on the former president to “show up at the debates and defend his record.”

Without Trump at the first debate, Christie was left without his primary intended target. At times, he was drowned out by the audience’s boos as he pushed back aggressively on questioning as to whether the candidates would support Trump even if he is convicted of felony charges.

Doug Burgum — A former software entrepreneur now in his second term as North Dakota’s governor, he nearly missed the first debate due to a tendon injury sustained while playing basketball with his campaign staff. But Burgum still participated, telling reporters afterward that he stood on one leg behind the podium.

Burgum has been using his fortune to boost his campaign, giving away $20 gift cards — “Biden Relief Cards,” hitting Biden’s handling of the economy — in exchange for $1 donations. Critics have questioned whether the offer violates campaign finance law.

Mike Pence — Campaigning on his reputation as a statesman and experienced elected official, Trump’s vice president showed off his debate chops last month and is angling to see more action in California.

Pence had combative moments with several other candidates in Milwaukee over some of the biggest dividing lines in the Republican nominating contest.

Drawing a contrast with Haley over abortion, among his signature issues, Pence called Haley’s push for consensus over the issue “the opposite of leadership.” Perhaps some of Pence’s fieriest moments came as he sparred with Ramaswamy, saying, “Now is not the time for on-the-job training.”

Pence himself was also the subject of a pivotal debate question, with the candidates largely agreeing that he had been correct to protect the results of the 2020 election against Trump’s pressure campaign.

WHO DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE (AGAIN)

Donald Trump — The current GOP front-runner is skipping his second straight debate, this time opting to meet with union workers in Michigan. He will give a speech shortly before his rivals take the stage in California.

Last month, Trump conducted an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that aired on X around the same time the first debate began.

Trump has said he does not want to elevate his lower-polling opponents by participating in a debate against them.

WHO MADE IT LAST TIME BUT NOT THIS TIME

Asa Hutchinson — The former two-term Arkansas governor was the final candidate to meet the RNC’s qualifications for the first debate, posting pleas on Twitter for $1 donations to help secure his slot in Milwaukee, but he didn’t meet the heightened criteria to participate in the second.

Instead of the debate, he’ll be in Michigan on Wednesday, holding a news conference his campaign describes as “calling out Donald Trump’s false promises.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno State’s Water Institute Teams with Nonprofit to Study on-Farm Recharge

DON'T MISS

Fresno City Council District 6 Debate Set for Oct. 14

DON'T MISS

Russia Urges Citizens to Leave Israel as Tensions with Hezbollah Escalate

DON'T MISS

Taxpayers in 24 States Will Be Able to File Their Returns Directly With the IRS in 2025

DON'T MISS

California Collects Millions in Stolen Wages, but Can’t Find Many Workers to Pay Them

DON'T MISS

Sweet Lola on the Mend, Ready for a Forever Home

DON'T MISS

Houthis Vow Retaliation Against US for Yemen Airstrikes

DON'T MISS

Chavez-Quintero Debate: How Would You Rate City-County Cooperation?

DON'T MISS

Biden Talks Election, Economy and Middle East in Surprise News Briefing

DON'T MISS

Big Money Rolling in from Commercial Builders for Local School Bond Measure Campaigns

UP NEXT

Clovis Daytime Burglary: 2 Suspects Arrested, 1 at Large

UP NEXT

Trump Stalled California Wildfire Aid? Ex-Aide Reveals Political Motive

UP NEXT

Costa Bill Opens Grants for Heavy Manufacturers to Start Using Hydrogen

UP NEXT

Former County Sheriff Has Been Appointed to Lead the Los Angeles Police Force

UP NEXT

How Meta Brings in Millions Off Political Violence

UP NEXT

Tulare County Teen Arrested for School Shooting Threat

UP NEXT

Money Race for Fresno and Clovis Candidates Tight in the Home Stretch

UP NEXT

Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Is Put on Hold Again After Day of Legal Whiplash

UP NEXT

Influential Prophesizing Pastors Believe Reelecting Trump Is a Win in the War of Angels and Demons

UP NEXT

The Whiskey Industry Is Bracing for a Trade War if Trump Wins. It’s Not Alone.

Taxpayers in 24 States Will Be Able to File Their Returns Directly With the IRS in 2025

1 day ago

California Collects Millions in Stolen Wages, but Can’t Find Many Workers to Pay Them

1 day ago

Sweet Lola on the Mend, Ready for a Forever Home

1 day ago

Houthis Vow Retaliation Against US for Yemen Airstrikes

2 days ago

Chavez-Quintero Debate: How Would You Rate City-County Cooperation?

2 days ago

Biden Talks Election, Economy and Middle East in Surprise News Briefing

2 days ago

Big Money Rolling in from Commercial Builders for Local School Bond Measure Campaigns

2 days ago

Behind the Scenes at Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Sea Lion Cove: A Flipper-tastic Adventure

2 days ago

Clovis Daytime Burglary: 2 Suspects Arrested, 1 at Large

2 days ago

Trump Stalled California Wildfire Aid? Ex-Aide Reveals Political Motive

2 days ago

Fresno State’s Water Institute Teams with Nonprofit to Study on-Farm Recharge

The California Water Institute at Fresno State announces its first formal partnership with Sustainable Conservation on a $498,423 grant-fund...

51 mins ago

51 mins ago

Fresno State’s Water Institute Teams with Nonprofit to Study on-Farm Recharge

51 mins ago

Fresno City Council District 6 Debate Set for Oct. 14

22 hours ago

Russia Urges Citizens to Leave Israel as Tensions with Hezbollah Escalate

1 day ago

Taxpayers in 24 States Will Be Able to File Their Returns Directly With the IRS in 2025

1 day ago

California Collects Millions in Stolen Wages, but Can’t Find Many Workers to Pay Them

1 day ago

Sweet Lola on the Mend, Ready for a Forever Home

2 days ago

Houthis Vow Retaliation Against US for Yemen Airstrikes

Challenger Luis Chavez and incumbent supervisor Sal Quintero debate in Fresno, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
2 days ago

Chavez-Quintero Debate: How Would You Rate City-County Cooperation?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend