Republican presidential primary debate (December 6, 2023)
Date: November 5, 2024  |
2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
The Republican Party held a presidential primary debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on December 6, 2023. It was the fourth Republican primary debate scheduled for the 2024 presidential election.
Four candidates met the polling and fundraising thresholds and signed several Republican National Committee pledges to qualify by the December 4 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 a summary of the third Republican presidential primary debate on November 8, 2023.
Click here for a summary of the fifth Republican presidential primary debate on January 10, 2024.
Debate overview
Video
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 debate transcripts. A candidate's opponents are generally not mentioned in his or her summary unless there was a significant exchange between them.
Chris Christie discussed Donald Trump, candidate electability, the Israel-Hamas war, medical treatments for transgender minors, parental rights, the Department of Justice, Taiwan, and foreign relations. Christie said Trump is a dictator, a bully, and unfit to be president. Christie said Republicans needed a nominee willing to tell the truth about Trump. Christie said he would send American troops to Gaza to secure American hostages. Christie said Trump wants to exact retribution on those who disagree with him or try to hold him to account. He said Trump doesn’t care about the American people. On medical treatments for transgender minors, Christie said the government should trust parents to make decisions for their own children. Christie said he supports empowering parents in education, school choice, and allowing parents to teach children values. Christie said he would rely on his experience in the Department of Justice to restore trust in the agency. Christie said he would appoint an attorney general and U.S. attorneys who only consider the facts and whether the government can prove beyond a reasonable doubt a person is guilty. He said U.S. presidents should get out of the way in criminal investigations. Christie said he would defend Taiwan militarily and was not afraid of any economic implications of standing up to China. Christie said foreign leaders would take advantage of candidates too timid to take on Trump. Christie was the least active participant in the debate, speaking for 16.9 minutes.
Ron DeSantis discussed his electability, the Israel-Hamas war, border security, inflation, immigration, Trump’s electability, transgender issues, election policy, Taiwan, healthcare, and vaccines. DeSantis said Republicans underperformed in the 2022 midterms, while he overperformed in his gubernatorial election. He said as Florida governor he has beaten the left. DeSantis said Israel has the right to eliminate Hamas, and the United States should not attempt to direct Israel’s war effort. DeSantis said the president has a right and responsibility to use military force at the southern border by categorizing cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. DeSantis said both parties contributed to high prices and high inflation. DeSantis said he would reduce government spending, open up domestic energy production, make universities back student loans, and increase vocational training to reduce inflation. DeSantis said he would ban immigrants whose cultures were hostile to America's. On Trump’s electability, DeSantis said Republicans should nominate a younger candidate who could serve two consecutive terms. DeSantis said Trump did not drain the swamp or build the wall, and that Trump deported fewer people than Barack Obama. DeSantis said he signed a bill to stop the gender mutilation of minors. DeSantis said he would deter China from invading Taiwan by opposing their commerce in the Indo-Pacific and their authority over Wall Street. DeSantis said he would support universal voter ID laws and oppose private spending on election administration, mail-in voting, and ballot harvesting. DeSantis said he would replace the Affordable Care Act with a policy that goes after the cost of healthcare, increases price transparency, and holds pharmaceutical companies, big insurance, and big government accountable. DeSantis said he opposes vaccine mandates and would clean house at the CDC, NIH, and FDA. DeSantis was the second-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 21.1 minutes.
Nikki Haley discussed her electability, social media, Iran, deporting illegal immigrants, China, housing, immigration screening, transgender issues, anti-semitism on college campuses, national security, and Taiwan. Haley highlighted her opposition to corporate bailouts, illegal immigration, unions, and Barack Obama, and her support of tort reform and pro-life policies as South Carolina governor. Haley said social media companies should make algorithms transparent and combat foreign bots. Haley said Iran only responds to strength, and the U.S. should go after infrastructure in Iran and Syria used to target U.S. soldiers. Haley said she would deport illegal immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration and vet those who arrived before then. Haley said she opposed Trump’s policies of sharing military technology with China and allowing China to buy U.S. land and fund higher education and would end normal trade relations with China until the country stops importing fentanyl to America. Haley said she would grow the economy, improve the supply chain for home construction, and reduce government spending and debt to make homeownership more accessible. Haley said she would ban immigrants from countries that are a threat to America. On transgender issues, Haley said she supported bathroom bills and opposed letting biological boys play in girls’ sports. Haley said universities should not be able to receive foreign money, that the definition of anti-semitism should include anti-Zionism, and the U.S. should take away tax-exempt status from universities that don’t acknowledge anti-Semitism. Haley said the possibility of terrorists entering the country through the U.S.-Mexico border was a threat. To deter China from invading Taiwan, Haley said she would strengthen alliances with other countries in the region. Haley was the third-most active participant in the debate, speaking for 17.5 minutes.
Vivek Ramaswamy discussed his electability, the Israel-Hamas war, the Russia-Ukraine war, illegal opioids, China, the administrative state, immigration, transgender issues, Taiwan, healthcare, and climate change. Ramaswamy said the country needs a leader from the outside and from a new generation. Ramaswamy said Hamas’ attack in Israel was not an attack on America. He said Israel has a right to defend itself without foreign interference. Ramaswamy said the war in Ukraine is pointless for America and he would seek a peace deal. Ramaswamy said he would secure the southern border and address the mental health epidemic to combat opioids. He said China should not be able to buy U.S. land or donate to U.S. universities and should be held financially accountable for fentanyl and the coronavirus. Ramaswamy said he would reduce federal bureaucrats by 75% in his first year, eliminate federal agencies, and rescind regulations that Congress has not explicitly mandated. Ramaswamy said ICE should deputize local law enforcement to deport illegal immigrants. Ramaswamy said the real enemy was the deep state, it appeared January 6 was an inside job, the great replacement theory was a statement of the Democratic Party’s platform, and big tech stole the 2020 election. Ramaswamy said transgenderism is a mental health disorder, and he would ban genital mutilation and chemical castration. Ramaswamy said he would defend Taiwan and advance the U.S. relationship with India to deter China. Ramaswamy said the U.S. needs diverse health insurance options that cover preventative healthcare and wellness and should end antitrust exemptions for health insurance companies. Ramaswamy said the climate change agenda is a hoax. Ramaswamy was the most active participant in the debate, speaking for 22.6 minutes.
Who qualified?
On December 4, 2023, the Republican National Committee said the following candidates qualified for the fourth Republican debate:[1]
- Chris Christie (R)
- Ron DeSantis (R)
- Nikki Haley (R)
- Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
Former President Donald Trump (R) chose not to participate in the debate. He met the polling and fundraising thresholds, but did not sign the necessary pledges to participate.
Venue
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced in November 2023 that the fourth Republican presidential primary debate would be held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[2] The University of Alabama said the debate would be held in the Frank M. Moody Music Building on their campus.[3]
In a statement, McDaniel said, "I am thrilled to announce that the RNC has sanctioned the fourth Republican primary debate in Alabama with NewsNation, The Megyn Kelly Show, the Washington Free Beacon, and Rumble as our partners. With less than a year out from Election Day 2024, the fourth debate stage will showcase our winning Republican agenda against Biden’s record of failure."[4]
Qualifications
Candidate status
A candidate must 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.[5]
Polling
No later than 48 hours before the debate, a candidate must receive 6 percent support or more in two national polls, or 6 percent support in one poll from two separate early-voting states—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.[5]
Fundraising
Candidates must also provide verifiable evidence that they have 80,000 unique campaign donors, with at least 200 unique donors from 20 different states or territories.[5]
Candidate pledge
Candidates are 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
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[6] | Fox News[7] | 8 |
| Second Republican primary debate | September 27, 2023 | Simi Valley, California[8] | Fox Business, Univision | 7 |
| Third Republican primary debate | November 8, 2023 | Miami, Florida[9] | NBC News, Salem Radio Network | 5 |
| Fourth Republican primary debate | December 6, 2023 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama[10] | 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.[11] | ||||
| Fifth Republican primary debate | January 10, 2024 | Des Moines, Iowa[11] | CNN | TBD |
| Sixth Republican primary debate | January 18, 2024 | Manchester, New Hampshire[12] | ABC News, WMUR-TV, New Hampshire Republican State Committee | TBD |
| Seventh Republican primary debate | January 21, 2024 | Goffstown, New Hampshire[11] | 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."[13]
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.[14]
| 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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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.[15] | 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.[16] | 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[17] | ||||||||||||
| 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[18] | Polling: Average of 2.5% in four recognized national polls.[19] | Polling: In recognized polls, receive an average of 3.5%, or 4% in either Iowa or New Hampshire.[20] | ||||||||
See also
- Republican presidential primary debate (November 8, 2023)
- Presidential candidates, 2024
- Democratic presidential nomination, 2024
- Republican presidential nomination, 2024
- Presidential debates, 2020
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
Footnotes
- ↑ Republican National Committee, "RNC ANNOUNCES PARTICIPANTS FOR FOURTH DEBATE IN ALABAMA," December 4, 2023
- ↑ Associated Press, "Qualification markers grow even tougher for next month’s 4th GOP presidential debate, in Alabama," November 3, 2023
- ↑ WVUA 23, "HERE’S EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE GOP DEBATE HAPPENING IN TUSCALOOSA DEC. 6," November 9, 2023
- ↑ RNC, "RNC TO PARTNER WITH NEWSNATION, THE MEGYN KELLY SHOW ON SIRIUSXM, THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON, AND RUMBLE FOR FOURTH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE IN ALABAMA," November 9, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Associated Press, "Qualification markers grow even tougher for next month’s 4th GOP presidential debate, in Alabama," November 3, 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
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 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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