The Republican National Committee (RNC) has made an announcement regarding the location and preliminary criteria for the first Republican presidential primary debate.
The event is set to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 23, 2023. The eligibility for candidates to participate in the debate is based on a set of specific criteria, which encompasses candidate status, polling, fundraising, and a series of pledges.
The criteria associated with a candidate’s status include being a natural-born U.S. citizen, having resided in the U.S. for a minimum of 14 years, and being 35 years or older. Additionally, candidates must have officially declared their candidacy, filed an active FEC Form 2 (Statement of Candidacy) and FEC Form 1 (Statement of Organization) with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), in which they identify as a candidate for the Republican nomination.
Polling criteria mandate that candidates must poll at least 1 percent in three national polls or 1 percent in two national polls and 1% in one early state poll from two separate “carve out” states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina). The RNC has also set forth standards for the polls themselves, which include surveying at least 800 registered likely Republican voters through various methods.
Fundraising standards set by the RNC stipulate that a candidate should have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors to their principal presidential campaign committee (or exploratory committee), with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20+ states and/or territories.
Pledging criteria require the candidates to agree not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debate, to support the eventual party nominee, and to sign an RNC data-sharing agreement. These requirements should be met and presented to the RNC no later than 48 hours prior to the first scheduled debate.
The RNC has also stated that a second debate will be held on August 24 if there are sufficient qualified candidates. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel expressed confidence that these qualifying criteria would promote a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process and put the party in the best position for the 2024 election.
Despite these sentiments, there has been criticism of the RNC’s established criteria. Former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson expressed concerns that the 40,000 donor threshold and party loyalty oath could limit the range of candidates and, in effect, limit voters’ choices. Hutchinson suggested that the RNC should set minimal criteria, especially in the early stages of the campaign, to ensure a more diverse and representative field of candidates.
