RNC announces new requirements for fourth debate as field narrows

The Republican National Committee announced a new requirement for its fourth presidential debate, which is likely to further narrow the primary field.

After a packed stage in the first and second debates, losing just one candidate between the two, the bar was raised significantly for the third debate, leaving room for just five candidates, one of whom will not appear. The bar will be raised even higher for the fourth debate, as the RNC raised polling and donor thresholds needed to qualify.

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To make it to the debate stage on Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, candidates must poll at least 6% in two national polls, or one national poll and two separate early state polls, Politico reported. They must also obtain at least 80,000 individual donors — twice the original amount for the first debate.

So far, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have all been confirmed as having met the criteria for the third debate on Wednesday. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) claims he has as well, but the RNC hasn’t yet confirmed.

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While former President Donald Trump, the front-runner roughly 40-50 points ahead of the field in almost every poll, has also qualified, he, once again, will not participate in the third debate next week.

The Republican presidential field saw its first major dropout in the form of former Vice President Mike Pence, who bowed out after disappointing results. His dropping out of the race doesn’t appear to have immediately affected support in one way or another for any of the other main candidates.