Republican presidential primary debate (August 23, 2023)
Date: November 5, 2024  |
2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
The Republican Party held a presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 23, 2023. It was the first Republican primary debate scheduled for the 2024 presidential election.
Eight candidates met the polling and fundraising thresholds and signed several Republican National Committee pledges to qualify by the August 21 deadline. For a more detailed overview of the debate qualification criteria, click here.
This page provides an overview of the hosts, venue, moderators, qualifications, and participants.
Click here for coverage of the second Republican presidential primary debate on September 27, 2023.
Debate overview
Video
- Watch the debate on the Republican Party's Rumble channel here.
- Read the Roll Call transcript of the debate here.
By the numbers
Candidate highlights
This section includes highlights for each presidential candidate with a focus on policy. The following paraphrased statements were compiled from Fox News' debate transcript. A candidate's opponents are generally not mentioned in his or her summary unless there was a significant exchange between them.
Doug Burgum discussed the economy, energy, national security, border security, and education. Burgum said the economy was tied to energy and national security. He said Biden’s energy policies subsidized China. Burgum said he would focus on deterrence in national security, and he supported increased military funding for Ukraine. He said China depended on Russian energy, and that the United States should place anti-ship missiles in Taiwan. Burgum said America should increase U.S.-Mexico border patrol funding. Burgum said he was pro-life. He said he opposed a federal abortion ban, citing the 10th Amendment to the Constitution. Burgum said that not all teachers and school districts were indoctrinating children. He said he would increase education innovation and reduce regulation. He said he would dissolve the Department of Education and provide block grants to schools based on performance. Burgum was the seventh-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 7.8 minutes.
Chris Christie discussed the economy, crime, Donald Trump’s indictments, national security, immigration, and education. Christie said, as governor of New Jersey, he reduced taxes, debt, unemployment, and public employee pensions. He said he stopped bad ideas from Democrats and reached consensus with Democrats on good ideas. He said he would reduce federal spending. Christie said he would instruct U.S. attorneys to prosecute violent crime in Democratic-led cities, circumventing local prosecutors. Christie said Trump’s behavior was not befitting the office of president and Trump did not respect his oath of office. He said Pence did the right thing on January 6, 2021. Christie said he supported more funding for Ukraine. He said that if Putin is not stopped America will be next. Christie said he would stop illegal immigration, and detain and deport immigrants residing in the country without legal permission. He said China was helping drug cartels make fentanyl. Christie said he opposed teachers’ unions. Christie said he was the best candidate to beat Biden as the only person on stage to have previously won an election against a Democratic incumbent. Christie was the third-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 11.62 minutes.
Ron DeSantis discussed the economy, the coronavirus pandemic, abortion, crime, federal agencies, national security, border policy, and education. DeSantis said the country was in decline. He said the federal government locked down the economy in response to COVID-19, that this was a mistake, and that Florida led the country in ending lockdowns. DeSantis said he proudly signed a six-week abortion ban as governor, and that he would support life as president. DeSantis said Democratic local prosecutors increased crime by not doing their jobs, and said he removed two of them from office in Florida. DeSantis said he would end the weaponization of federal agencies. DeSantis said he would only increase funding for Ukraine if Europe did. He said our first obligation is to defend the U.S.-Mexico border. He said he would authorize lethal force at the border and treat cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. DeSantis said we need education in schools, not indoctrination. He said Florida removed Critical Race Theory and gender ideology from curriculums, and that as president he would increase the focus on civics. DeSantis was the fourth-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 10 minutes.
Nikki Haley discussed the economy, abortion, Trump’s indictments, foreign policy, and education. Haley said we need to reduce federal spending, borrowing, and Congressional earmarks. She said both Democrats and Republicans contributed to too much spending. Haley said India and China need to lower their carbon emissions to address climate change, and that the Biden administration’s renewable energy subsidies are funding China. Haley said she was pro-life. She said Republicans do not have the votes to pass a federal abortion ban, and should find consensus on late-term abortion, adoption, and contraception access. Haley said voters should decide whether Trump should serve another term and called for a new generation of Republican leadership. Haley said she supported more funding for Ukraine. She said Ukraine is the first line of defense to prevent world war, and that a win for Russia is a win for China. Haley said she would focus on literacy and reading remediation in education. She said she supported school choice and transparency for parents in the classroom. Haley was the fifth-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 8.3 minutes.
Asa Hutchinson discussed the economy, abortion, crime, Trump’s indictments, border security, and education. Hutchinson said, as governor of Arkansas, he lowered taxes and reduced the size of government. He said he would reduce non-defense federal spending by 10%. Hutchinson said he supported regulating abortion at the federal level. He said we need to enhance adoption services and maternal care. Hutchison said he understood the drug crisis in America as former head of the DEA. To fight drug crimes, he said he would enforce the law, stop fentanyl at the southern border, expand addiction counseling, and use economic pressure to ensure cooperation from the Mexican government. Hutchinson said Trump may be disqualified from being president under the 14th Amendment, and if Trump is convicted he would not support Trump as the Republican nominee. Hutchinson said we need to increase computer science education in schools to compete with China. Hutchinson was the least active participant in the debate, speaking for 7.4 minutes.
Mike Pence discussed the economy, abortion, crime, Trump’s indictments, national security, and border security. Pence said he was proud of the Trump-Pence administration, and that he was the most qualified candidate in the race. He said we needed to address the national debt and reduce federal spending. Pence said he supported a 15-week federal abortion ban and would be a champion for the policy as a moral issue. Pence said he would address crime by increasing law enforcement funding, and by reallocating Department of Education funding to the states to improve education. Pence said he chose the Constitution over Trump on January 6, 2021. On Trump's indictments, he said nobody is above the law and everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Pence said he supported more military funding for Ukraine. He said we should support Ukraine in the war with Russia. On immigration, Pence said he would use economic pressure to negotiate with Mexico, and partner with the Mexican military to fight cartels. Pence was the most active participant in the debate, speaking for 12.4 minutes.
Vivek Ramaswamy discussed the economy, energy, crime and mental health, Trump’s indictments, national security, immigration, and education. Ramaswamy said the country needed an outsider and the country should be handed over to a new generation. Ramaswamy said he would improve the economy by increasing fossil fuel production and by reducing the administrative state and federal regulation. Ramaswamy said the climate change agenda is a hoax. Ramaswamy said there is a mental health epidemic in America and that people are hungry for purpose and meaning. Ramaswamy said he would pardon Trump. Ramaswamy said he opposed military funding for Ukraine, and that America should improve relations with Russia to prevent Russia and China from becoming closer allies. He said Ukraine funding should go to U.S.-Mexico border security instead. Ramaswamy said he would shut down the Department of Education and give that funding to families. He said he opposed teachers’ unions. Ramaswamy was the second-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 11.63 minutes.
Tim Scott discussed the economy, climate change, abortion, Trump’s indictments, national security, and education. Scott said we need to reduce federal spending in order to reduce inflation. Scott said inflation had exploded under Biden, and there was record-low unemployment for the majority of the population at the end of the last Republican Congressional majority in 2019. Scott said China contributed more to carbon emissions than the United States, and he would move jobs from China to the U.S. to address emissions. Scott said he was pro-life, opposed late-term abortion, and supported a federal abortion ban at a minimum of 15 weeks. Scott said the Department of Justice is being weaponized against Trump and conservatives. Scott said America’s most pressing national security issue was the U.S.-Mexico border. He said he would finish the border wall and double the number of border patrol agents. Scott said the only way to improve education was to break up teachers’ unions. Scott was the sixth-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 7.9 minutes.
Criticisms of Biden and Trump
Who qualified?
On August 21, 2023, the Republican National Committee said the following candidates qualified for the first Republican primary debate:[1]
- Doug Burgum (R)
- Chris Christie (R)
- Ron DeSantis (R)
- Nikki Haley (R)
- Asa Hutchinson (R)
- Mike Pence (R)
- Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
- Tim Scott (R)
On August 20, 2023, Donald Trump (R) announced he would not attend the debate, saying, "New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by 'legendary' numbers. [...] 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. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!"[2] Trump had previously said in an August 9 Newsmax interview that he did not intend to sign the loyalty pledge.[3] In 2016, Trump declined to attend two of the Republican presidential primary debates. Click here to read more.
Larry Elder (R), Will Hurd (R), Perry Johnson (R), and Francis Suarez (R) all said they had met the fundraising and polling criteria to qualify for the debate leading up to the deadline. Politico’s Zach Montellaro, Kierra Frazier, and Steven Shepard wrote, “The RNC’s vague qualifying rules for polls led to a flood of surveys being released over the closing days of the qualification period, muddying the waters for who would actually appear on stage.”[4] Expand the section below to view these candidates' responses to not receiving an invitation from the RNC to participate:
Larry Elder
| “ |
I intend to sue the RNC to halt Wednesday's presidential debate. I said from the beginning that it appeared the rules of the game were rigged, little did we know just how rigged it is. For some reason, the establishment leaders at the RNC are afraid of having my voice on the debate stage. Just as I had to fight to successfully be on the ballot in the California recall election, I will fight to be on that debate stage because I fully met all of the requirements to do so.[5] The RNC Committee on Debates meets in Milwaukee today. Are they even aware their leaders are keeping voices off the stage that qualified? I'm calling for a discussion and a vote of the full committee on the rigged polling criteria set by the anti-conservative, anti-Trump RNC establishment.[6][7] |
” |
Will Hurd
| “ |
I was the last candidate to enter this race. My team and I met the 40,000 donor threshold in less than 60 days without any gimmicks. We registered in eight reputable national polls and eight reputable state polls. We are close to crossing the 50,000 donor threshold, and in New Hampshire, I’m tied with the former vice president and United Nations ambassador, who have much higher name ID. The lack of transparency and confusion around the RNC’s debate requirements is antithetical to the democratic process. The polling standards are arbitrary, unclear, and lack consistency. This is an unacceptable process for a presidential election. The American people deserve better. The RNC discounted polls that included independents and Democrats willing to vote for a Republican. If the GOP is looking to grow our electorate and beat Joe Biden, then we better have a clear understanding of what qualifies as a likely Republican voter. Anyone, regardless of party, who is willing to check the box for a Republican should be considered a ‘likely Republican voter.’ Expanding our party should be applauded, not penalized. I have said from day one of my candidacy that I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump. The biggest difference between me and every single candidate who will be on the debate stage in Milwaukee is that I have never bent the knee to Trump. It’s disappointing being kept off the debate stage, but I will not be deterred. The stakes are too high.[8][7] |
” |
Perry Johnson
| “ |
The corrupt and rigged RNC debate process has been a trainwreck from the beginning. Our campaign hit every metric put forward by the RNC and we have qualified for the debate. It is clear that from the beginning, the RNC knew who they wanted on the stage and who they wanted to ban from the stage. Simply put, this is a flawed decision of a poorly run process of a corrupt organization. This morning, I am working with my team to take legal action against the RNC.[9][7] |
” |
Francis Suarez
| “ |
Throughout the debate verification process, my team was in touch with the RNC as we worked towards meeting the qualifications for the first debate. On Thursday afternoon, in consultation with the RNC, we believed the polling requirement would be met by two polls that were yet to be reported. On Monday night, we learned that a Cygnal poll would not be counted due to its affiliation with Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, despite multiple published reports confirming the poll was not paid for by any campaign. Two polls were certified by the RNC - Kaplan and Morning Consult (Aug 11-13) - however, we believed an equivalent Morning Consult poll (July 1-3) showing me at over 1% would certainly be certified. I am sorry that this debate will not include my perspectives from the largest growing voting block in our country - young, conservative Hispanics. Additionally, Republicans will not be able to hear my story of how conservative principles of keeping taxes low, keeping people safe and focusing on creating prosperity for all created the most successful big city in America. I respect the rules and process set forth by the RNC, and I look forward to working with my party to ensure we win back the White House and restore the path to a brighter future for our country.[10][7] |
” |
Qualifications
On June 2, 2023, the Republican National Committee released the criteria for qualifying for the debate. A candidate was required to meet all four categories of criteria to be eligible to debate.[11]
Candidate status
A candidate needed to meet the constitutional requirements to be eligible, have declared their candidacy, and have active statements of candidacy and organization filed with the Federal Election Commission.[11]
Polling
No later than 48 hours before the debate, a candidate had to receive 1 percent support or more in three national or 1 percent support in two national polls and 1 percent support in one early state poll—Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and/or Nevada. Recognized polls were required to survey at least 800 likely Republican voters through a mix of polling methods, not overly weight any individual cohort more than the poll's margin of error, ask the presidential preference question before any other than might skew an individual's response, and not be conducted through a candidate or candidate committee.[11]
Fundraising
Candidates had to provide verifiable evidence that they had 40,000 unique campaign donors, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20 states and/or territories.[11]
Candidate pledge
Candidates were required to sign pledges agreeing to the following no later than 48 hours prior to the debate:
- Not participate in any debates not sanctioned by the RNC for the rest of the election cycle
- Support the eventual party nominee
- Participate in the RNC data-sharing agreement
Venue
The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced in February 2023 that Milwaukee, Wisconsin, would host the first Republican presidential primary debate.
“I am so excited to bring the world into Milwaukee, not just for the Republican Party, but to help businesses and business owners to highlight a bipartisan effort to do great things for this urban community,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.[12]
The Fiserv Forum was the venue for the event.
Fox News and Rumble broadcasted the debate live on August 23, 2023. McDaniel said, "we look forward to hosting a fair and transparent platform for our great candidates to debate and share our winning Republican message with voters across the country."[13]
Republican presidential primary debates, 2023-2024
The following table provides an overview of the date, location, host, and number of participants in each scheduled 2024 Republican presidential primary debate.
| 2024 Republican presidential primary debates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debate | Date | Location | Host | Number of participants |
| First Republican primary debate | August 23, 2023 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin[14] | Fox News[15] | 8 |
| Second Republican primary debate | September 27, 2023 | Simi Valley, California[16] | Fox Business, Univision | 7 |
| Third Republican primary debate | November 8, 2023 | Miami, Florida[17] | NBC News, Salem Radio Network | 5 |
| Fourth Republican primary debate | December 6, 2023 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama[18] | NewsNation, The Megyn Kelly Show, the Washington Free Beacon | 4 |
| On December 7, 2023, CNN reported the RNC would lift its ban on non-RNC sanctioned debates.[19] | ||||
| Fifth Republican primary debate | January 10, 2024 | Des Moines, Iowa[19] | CNN | TBD |
| Sixth Republican primary debate | January 18, 2024 | Manchester, New Hampshire[20] | ABC News, WMUR-TV, New Hampshire Republican State Committee | TBD |
| Seventh Republican primary debate | January 21, 2024 | Goffstown, New Hampshire[19] | CNN | TBD |
Republican primary debate participation, 2023
Historical analysis, 2016-2024
The section below provides analysis of presidential primary debate participation in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Number of debates and participants
Participation by presidential nominees
The table below indicates whether the Democratic or Republican Party presidential nominees participated in each presidential primary debate in 2016 and 2020.
The 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden (D), and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton (D), both participated in all of the primary debates during their respective election cycles.
Donald Trump (R), the 2016 Republican presidential nominee, did not participate in the seventh Republican primary debate that cycle. At the time, Trump's campaign said, "Unlike the very stupid, highly incompetent people running our country into the ground, Mr. Trump knows when to walk away. Roger Ailes and FOX News think they can toy with him, but Mr. Trump doesn’t play games."[21]
Trump also declined to attend a primary debate originally scheduled for March 21, 2016. Former Ohio Governor John Kasich (R), who was also running for the nomination, said he wouldn't attend if Trump didn't, leaving Ted Cruz (R) as the only active candidate who said he would participate. The debate was subsequently canceled.[22]
| Presidential nominee primary debate participation, 2016-2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Nominee | First debate | Second debate | Third debate | Fourth debate | Fifth debate | Sixth debate | Seventh debate | Eighth debate | Ninth debate | Tenth debate | Eleventh debate | Twelfth debate |
| 2020 | Joe Biden (D) |  |
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N/A |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton (D) | |
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N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 | Donald Trump (R) | |
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 |
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Primary debate criteria, 2016-2024
The table below provides an overview of the polling and fundraising criteria for the first five primary debates in 2016, 2020, and 2024
| Primary debate criteria, 2016-2024 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | First debate | Second debate | Third debate | Fourth debate | Fifth debate | ||||||||
| 2024 Republican primary | Polling: 1% support in three national polls, or 1% support in two national polls and one early state poll; and Fundraising: 40,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. |
Polling: 3% support in two national polls, or 3% support in one national poll and two early state polls; and Fundraising: 50,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. | Polling: 4% support in two national polls, or 4% support in one national poll and two early state polls; and Fundraising: 70,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. | Polling: 6% support in two national polls, or 6% support in two early state polls; and Fundraising: 80,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. | Polling: 10% support in three national or Iowa polls | ||||||||
| 2020 Democratic primary | Polling: 1% support in three national or early state polls; or Fundraising: 65,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states.[23] | Polling: 2% support in four national or early state polls; or Fundraising: 130,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 400 unique donors per state in at least 20 states.[24] | Polling: 3% support in four national or early state polls, or 5% support in at least two early state polls; or Fundraising: 165,000 unique campaign donors, with a minimum of 600 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. | ||||||||||
| 2016 Democratic primary | Polling: 1% support in three national polls[25] | ||||||||||||
| 2016 Republican primary | Polling: 10 highest-polling candidates in 5 most recent recognized national polls | Polling: 1% support in three national polls | Polling: Average of 3% in six recognized national polls[26] | Polling: Average of 2.5% in four recognized national polls.[27] | Polling: In recognized polls, receive an average of 3.5%, or 4% in either Iowa or New Hampshire.[28] | ||||||||
See also
- Republican presidential primary debate (September 27, 2023)
- Presidential candidates, 2024
- Democratic presidential nomination, 2024
- Republican presidential nomination, 2024
- Presidential debates, 2020
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
Footnotes
- ↑ NBC, "Eight candidates qualify for the first Republican presidential debate," August 21, 2023
- ↑ Truth Social, "Trump on August 20, 2023," accessed August 21, 2023
- ↑ CNBC, "Trump won’t pledge to support to the GOP’s eventual nominee, a debate requirement," August 10, 2023
- ↑ Politico, "RNC confirms the first debate field — without Trump," August 22, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "Elder on August 22, 2023," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "Elder on August 22, 2023," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Hurd's campaign website, "TIED WITH PENCE AND HALEY, BUT LEFT OFF THE DEBATE STAGE," August 22, 2023
- ↑ Johnson's campaign website, "Perry Johnson Blasts RNC for Corrupt and Rigged Debate Process," August 22, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "Suarez on August 22, 2023," accessed August 23, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Republican National Committee, "RNC ANNOUNCES CRITERIA AND DATE FOR FIRST DEBATE IN MILWAUKEE," June 2, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "Milwaukee may be site of Republican presidential primary debate," February 2, 2023
- ↑ Fox News, "Fox News will host first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee," April 12, 2023
- ↑ The Hill, "RNC votes to hold first presidential debate in Milwaukee," February 23, 2023
- ↑ Fox News, "Fox News will host first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee," April 12, 2023
- ↑ The Hill, "McDaniel announces California will host second GOP debate for 2024," April 20, 2023
- ↑ Reuters, "Third Republican primary debate to be in Miami in early November," September 14, 2023
- ↑ Associated Press, "Qualification markers grow even tougher for next month’s 4th GOP presidential debate, in Alabama," November 3, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 CNN, "CNN to host two GOP presidential primary debates in 2024," December 7, 2023
- ↑ ABC News, "ABC News to host GOP presidential debate before New Hampshire primary," December 7, 2023
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Trump says he won’t participate in GOP debate on Fox News," January 26, 2016
- ↑ NBC News, "2016 GOP Debate Cancelled After Trump Says He Won't Attend," March 16, 2016
- ↑ The first and second primary debates had the same qualification criteria.
- ↑ The third and fourth primary debates had the same qualification criteria.
- ↑ The first through fifth primary debates had the same qualification criteria.
- ↑ This is the criteria for the 8:00 p.m. debate. The 6:00 p.m. debate required candidates to have 1% in any one of the recognized polls.
- ↑ This is the criteria for the 9:00 p.m. debate. The 7:00 p.m. debate required candidates to have 1% in any one of the recognized polls.
- ↑ This is the criteria for the 8:30 p.m. debate. The 6:00 p.m. debate required candidates to have 1% in four separate national, Iowa, or New Hampshire recognized polls.
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