CNN to host GOP debates in Iowa and New Hampshire

CNN announced Thursday that the network will host Republican presidential primary debates in Iowa and New Hampshire.

The news comes just one day after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy faced off in the fourth primary debate of the cycle in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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The Iowa debate will take place on Jan. 10, five days before the state’s party caucuses, while the New Hampshire offering will follow on Jan. 21, two days before the primary.

As it stands, these CNN debates are not sanctioned by the Republican National Committee. RNC officials will reportedly meet Friday in Washington, D.C., to discuss allowing candidates to appear in debates not approved by the committee, but DeSantis tweeted shortly after CNN’s announcement that he is “looking forward” to getting back onstage in Iowa.

There’s a strong chance not all the candidates who took part in Wednesday’s debate will take the stage at both of CNN’s offerings.

The network additionally announced that eligible participants must receive at least 10% support in three national or state polls for each debate, with CNN requiring approval for at least one of the qualifying polls.

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Former President Donald Trump maintains a commanding lead over his Republican challengers despite not appearing in any of the RNC’s four debates and facing 91 felony indictments.

As of Thursday, Trump is up nearly 48 points on DeSantis, according to the RealClearPolitics polling aggregate. Haley has surged into third place in recent weeks and trails DeSantis by 3 points, while neither Ramaswamy nor Christie is polling above 5% on average.