Campaign

Third GOP primary debate set for Nov. 8 in Miami

by Julia Mueller - 09/22/23 3:30 PM ET

Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand on stage before a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The third GOP presidential debate is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami, a Republican National Committee (RNC) spokesperson confirmed Friday.

The date, first reported by CNN, is more than a month after the second debate — which is set for Wednesday at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif. Previous reporting suggested only that the third debate would be in early November.

The RNC kicked off its presidential nominating cycle with the first debate in August in Milwaukee, hosted by Fox News. The second debate will be hosted by Fox Business.

Eight GOP hopefuls were cleared for the first debate stage, while it appears only six have qualified so far for the second. Those candidates are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The venue and hosts for the third debate have not yet been announced.

The RNC upped its polling and donor requirements to qualify for the stage between the first and second debates, and it is raising them again for the third debate, according to new RNC rules released Friday.

To qualify for the debate stage in Florida, candidates will need to poll at least 4 percent in two national polls, or 4 percent in one national poll and 4 percent in one early-state poll from two separate “carve out” states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina — among other requirements. They also need to meet a minimum threshold of 70,000 unique donors, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20 or more states and territories.

Former President Trump, the front-runner of the party’s presidential race, skipped the first debate and recently announced he’ll also forego the second. He has cited his lead in the polls as a reason to sit out.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more,” Trump wrote ahead of the first debate. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

The former president is also expected to skip the third debate.