The first Republican presidential debate of the year, taking place on Wednesday night in Milwaukee, will feature eight candidates.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have qualified to appear on stage.
Former President Donald Trump announced earlier this week he would not participate. Trump has taped an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that is expected to run simultaneously, The New York Times reported.
“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had,” Trump wrote on social media earlier this week, referencing high polling numbers. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will stand center stage, based on their polling, Fox News reported. The two have emerged early as the top alternatives to Trump, who is leading 2-to-1 in some surveys.
DeSantis might have the most to win or lose, political adviser David Axelrod said on CNN’s State of the Union.
“DeSantis … his whole candidacy was premised on, he was the alternative to Trump,” Axelrod said, per The Hill. “[DeSantis has] been doing nothing but sinking since he became a candidate. And now he’s in jeopardy of losing that distinction as being Trump’s principal challenger.”
“And that’s an opportunity for everybody else on the stage,” he added.
Ramaswamy has made himself a competitor to DeSantis by avoiding paid media and campaigning on social media and at live events.
“He’s been an extremely energetic campaigner in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina and Nevada and just shows up a lot more than others do,” University of Denver Center on American Politics Director Seth Masket told the Washington Examiner.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized Trump for not participating in the debate.
During a campaign appearance in Miami on Friday, The New York Times quoted Christie as saying, “If you qualify for the stage, which Trump has, not showing up is completely disrespectful to the Republican Party, who made you their nominee twice, and to the Republican voters, whose support you’re asking for again.”
“He’s scared of me,” Christie said, according to Politico.
Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd did not have the poll numbers to qualify for the debate. Hurd also refused to pledge his support for the eventual Republican nominee, another prerequisite.
“I have said from Day 1 of my candidacy that I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump,” Hurd said in a Tuesday statement to The Texas Tribune. “The biggest difference between me and every single candidate who will be on the debate stage in Milwaukee is that I never bent the knee to Trump.”
Richardson pastor Ryan Binkley, 55, also did not qualify. He campaigned in Indiana over the weekend and made his case for the nomination.
“Right now, you know, if you’re struggling financially, a message of free health care, free tuition, free anything, is actually very compelling,” Binkley told an Indianapolis TV station. “So what’s our alternative? If I believe in fiscal stewardship, and I believe in, you know, independence and freedom, and not too big of government? What does that mean? Well, I got to start teaching people if they’re going to come out of poverty, what are we going to show them?”
The first debate will be broadcast on Fox News and Fox Business Network on Wednesday beginning at 8 p.m. CT.
