- Date • Aug. 23, 2023
- Time • 9 p.m. ET
- Location • Milwaukee
- Sponsors • Fox News, Young America’s Foundation & Rumble
- Moderators • Bret Baier & Martha MacCallum
The Republican National Committee invited eight candidates to the first debate in August. Candidates qualified by getting 40,000 donors (with 200 unique donors in 20 different states) and by hitting a polling threshold that sees them clear 1 percent in a handful of polls.
But there was some controversy: A handful of low-polling candidates claimed to meet the requirements — including Perry Johnson, whom POLITICO initially deemed qualified — who didn't get an RNC invite, raising questions about how unpredictable and arbitrary the committee's decisions will be for future debates.
Qualification period: July 1 – Aug. 21
Polling type:
National
State
Candidates are ordered by qualifications met and their standing in the latest weekly Morning Consult Poll. Candidates not included that poll are ordered by qualifications met and then alphabetically.
- Date • Sept. 27, 2023
- Time • 9 p.m. ET
- Location • Simi Valley, Calif.
- Sponsors • Fox Business, Reagan Foundation, Univision & Rumble
- Moderators • Stuart Varney, Dana Perino & Ilia Calderón
Increases in the polling (3 percent) and fundraising (50,000 donors) thresholds meant former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was dropped from the stage after qualifying for the first debate. Again, former President Donald Trump declined to participate.
Qualification period: Aug. 1 – Sept. 25
Polling type:
National
State
Candidates are ordered by qualifications met and their standing in the latest weekly Morning Consult Poll. Candidates not included that poll are ordered by qualifications met and then alphabetically.
English (US)