Who Qualified for the First GOP Debate?

The primary Republican presidential debate is shortly approaching, and with it, an early check of the candidates’ viability.

To qualify for the Aug. 23 debate in Milwaukee, a candidate should ballot at the least 1% in three nationwide polls, or a mixture of two nationwide polls and two polls from early-primary states, based on guidelines set by the Republican Nationwide Committee. Candidates should additionally obtain donations from 40,000 donors, together with 200 distinctive donors in 20 states or extra.

Along with the polling and fundraising necessities, the candidates should additionally take a loyalty pledge to be able to take part within the debate. With that pledge, which has been controversial among the many candidates, GOP presidential hopefuls should signal a press release that they are going to help the eventual Republican nominee.

Although the boundaries for entry aren’t particularly excessive, some candidates have raised considerations that the addition of a fundraising requirement is just too burdensome. All of the whereas, the significance of the occasion has been referred to as into query as former President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner, has opted to not attend.

Right here’s the place the candidates stand:

Former ambassador to the United Nations, former South Carolina governor

Former New Jersey governor

Conservative speak radio host

Enterprise govt, pastor

Former congressman, Texas

Former Cranston, Rhode Island, mayor