The Republican National Committee has lifted restrictions on candidates participating in debates and other forums the party does not control, clearing the way for debates planned by CNN and ABC News.
The RNC’s committee on presidential debates announced Friday the party has no debates scheduled in January and that the debates that have been scheduled “are not affiliated with the RNC.”
“It is now time for Republican primary voters to decide who will be our next President and candidates are free to use any forum or format to communicate to voters as they see fit,” the committee said in a statement.
The decision comes after CNN announced plans to host a pair of debates in January that the party did not approve, which will give candidates a chance to face off before the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.
CNN scheduled the debates for Jan. 10 in Des Moines and Jan. 21 at Saint Anselm College just outside Manchester.
ABC News and WMUR-TV announced that they would partner for a Jan. 18 debate at Saint Anselm College.
The RNC sanctioned four presidential debates that helped winnow the field by requiring candidates to meet certain donor and polling thresholds. The last of the four debates was held Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Former President Donald Trump skipped all four of the RNC-sponsored debates.
Touting his massive lead in the polls, Mr. Trump has said the race is over and called on the RNC to pull the plug on future events so the party can unite behind his candidacy.
The RNC said Friday that it wanted to give candidates the freedom that some wanted to participate in more forums and events.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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