The Republican National Committee on Friday released its presidential primary debate requirements, with the first event featuring the field of GOP contenders scheduled to take place in Milwaukee, Wis. on August 23.
To qualify for the debate, candidates must meet certain status, polling, fundraising and pledging criteria, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced.
Candidates can participate if they are eligible to run for president by the prerequisites outlined in the Constitution, have declared their bids, and have an active statement of candidacy for the GOP nomination filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). In addition, candidates must have an active form filed with the FEC designating the candidate’s principal campaign committee.
Debate performers must also be polling at least one percent in three national polls, or one percent in two national polls and one percent in one early state poll from two separate “carve out” states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, McDaniel said. The polls cannot be conducted by a company that poses a conflict of interest by being affiliated with a candidate or candidate committee, in addition to a number of other constraints.
Candidates must have strong fundraising records, with a minimum of 40,000 unique donors to their principal presidential campaign committee (or exploratory committee), with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20+ states and/or territories.
Finally, candidates must pledge to commit to the RNC as the sole organization they will participate in debate with. They also must sign a pledge agreeing to support the eventual party nominee. In February, the RNC’s Temporary Standing Committee on Presidential Debates met to adopt rules, including the loyalty pledge, outlining which candidates may participate in the party’s debates.
The roster of Republican competitors set to take the stage has been steadily expanding, with Governor Ron DeSantis launching his campaign last week and former vice president Mike Pence expected to enter the race next week.
“I am excited to announce the criteria for our first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee on August 23,” McDaniel said in a statement. “The RNC is committed to putting on 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.”
Once the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees are determined, the pair moves on to participate in a debate under the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which has organized the presidential and vice presidential general election debates for over thirty years.
In June 2021, the RNC criticized the commission for “repeated missteps” and “partisan action” related to the 2020 debates, when Donald Trump faced off against Joe Biden, stating that it would advise GOP candidates against participating in debates until reforms were adopted.