The Republican National Committee (RNC) has released the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates to participate in the second GOP debate, scheduled for September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The criteria include higher polling and donor thresholds compared to the first debate. Candidates must have a minimum of 50,000 unique donors, including 200 donors in 20 or more states, and must register at a minimum of 3% in two national polls or poll at 3% in one national poll and 3% in two polls conducted in early states like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel expressed support for the increased criteria, comparing the second debate to the Olympics and the first debate to the “prelims.” She emphasized the need to present candidates who can take on Joe Biden and meet the criteria for the “Olympic stage of the Republican Party primary.” The candidates who have qualified for the first GOP debate include former President Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and others, though Trump has not yet committed to participating in either debate.
The new criteria reflect the RNC’s intention to “step up” the requirements, ensuring that candidates demonstrate momentum and growth in their campaigns. The thresholds for the second debate are notably higher than those for the first debate held in Milwaukee earlier this month, where candidates needed a minimum of 40,000 unique donors and to register at 1% in three national polls or two national polls and two early state polls.