CNN planning DeSantis, Haley town halls to kick off new year

CNN will host town halls next month with two Republican presidential primary candidates who are hoping to mount a challenge to former President Trump, the race’s front-runner.

The first will be with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Jan. 4 and will be moderated by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, airing live from Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Later that evening, at 10 p.m. EST, the network will host a similar event with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley at the same venue, moderated by CNN anchor Erin Burnett.

CNN is also hosting a pair of Republican presidential primary debates in January, the first in Des Moines on Jan. 10 and the second from Goffstown, N.H., on Jan. 21.

DeSantis and Haley have been vying for second place in the Republican primary behind Trump, who leads the rest of the field by double digits in the polls.