Republican debate: Everything to know about the second GOP debate

The second Republican presidential debate is less than one week away, and so far, only six candidates are expected to grace the stage in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday.

The debate is the second of three debates for candidates vying for the Republican nomination, and it will take place at the Ronald Reagan National Library. The first debate had eight candidates, and it took place in Milwaukee on Aug. 23, 2023. The third will take place in November.

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Who will be on the debate stage

The list of participants has not been finalized, but the six contenders expected on the stage are Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have not qualified for the second debate despite being on the stage in Milwaukee. However, they have until Monday to cross the threshold. Former President Donald Trump has qualified for the debate but will not be attending.

The Republican National Committee required presidential candidates to hit 3% in the polls and 50,000 donors for the second debate, and the RNC mandated the signing of a loyalty pledge that promised their support for the eventual Republican nominee.

Who is hosting the debate and where you can watch it

The second debate will be moderated by Fox Business Network and Univision and will take place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Sept. 27, 2023.

The debate will air at 9 p.m. on Fox Business and Univision. It can also be livestreamed exclusively on Rumble. Stuart Varney and Dana Perino will moderate the debate for Fox Business, and Ilia Calderon will moderate for Univision.

Who to watch for

Several candidates did well during the first debate. Haley, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy earned the highest praise from viewers, so eyes will likely be on the three of them, along with Pence.

According to data from the Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight, and Ipsos, 29% of GOP voters think DeSantis won the first debate, the highest mark of any candidate. He also had the highest average grade from GOP voters for his performance. But Haley also saw a bump of support for the general election, receiving a boost from swing voters. However, all six candidates remain significantly behind Trump.

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The third debate

The RNC will hold its third primary debate on Nov. 8 in Miami. Each candidate must have a minimum of 70,000 individual donors to their campaign or exploratory committee, including 200 donors in 20 or more states, according to Fox News. Candidates must also reach 4% in two national polls or reach 4% in one national poll and 4% in two statewide polls.