RNC raises threshold to qualify for third GOP debate

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is raising the threshold for 2024 GOP candidates to qualify for the third Republican debate as the party seeks to narrow the field ahead of the Iowa caucuses in January. 

Republican candidates will need to show two national polls that have them at 4 percent or higher, or they’ll need to receive 4 percent support in one national poll and two different early state polls. 

Candidates also need to meet a donor threshold of at least 70,000 unique donors, including at least 200 from 20 or more states each. 

The third debate criteria is an increase from the thresholds required to qualify for the second debate on Sept. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. In that debate, the polling threshold is 3 percent with a minimum of 50,000 unique donors required.

Candidates who say they have qualified for the second debate are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The third debate will be Nov. 8 in Miami as Republican candidates seek to rise above the field and challenge former President Trump, who continues to lead his rivals in both national and local polling — but has so far snubbed the GOP debates.