Who Qualified for the Third GOP Debate?

Republican candidates are prepping for the third GOP presidential debate, as the field narrows with just two months to go before the first nominating contest.

After raucous debates in Wisconsin and California, the candidates are set to return to the debate stage for a two-hour event at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in Miami. And the barriers for entry are even higher – shrinking the field to five, while candidates who struggled to gain a foothold, like former Vice President Mike Pence, have begun withdrawing from the race. The smaller field, paired with recent shakeup among the top challengers to Trump, is expected to produce new dynamics on stage.

To qualify for the third debate, a candidate must poll at least 4% in two national polls or 4% in one national poll and one poll from an early state poll in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, according to rules set by the Republican National Committee. Candidates must also receive donations from 70,000 donors, including 200 donors in 20 states or more.

In addition to the polling and fundraising requirements, the candidates must also have taken a loyalty pledge in order to participate in the debate, which all candidates who appeared in the first and second debates completed. With that pledge, which has been somewhat controversial among the candidates, GOP presidential hopefuls must sign a statement that they will support the eventual Republican nominee.

While the other candidates try to break ahead in the polls, former President Donald Trump – who opted not to participate in the first and second debate – is also expected to skip the upcoming confrontation.

Here’s where the candidates stand:

Former ambassador to the United Nations, former South Carolina governor

Former New Jersey governor

Business executive, pastor