- The Washington Times - Friday, September 15, 2023

Republican presidential candidate hopefuls will be hitting the podiums in Miami for the third primary debate, a Republican National Committee spokesperson confirmed with The Washington Times.

CNN was the first to report on the location for the third debate, scheduled for early November.

The RNC has not announced the date, exact location, moderators or rules for the event.

The first debate, in Milwaukee, was hosted by Fox News on Aug. 23. Eight candidates qualified for the event. Former President Donald Trump also qualified but didn’t attend.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had,” Mr. Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, before the first event. “I will therefore not be doing the debates.”

Six candidates have qualified for the second debate, to be hosted by Fox Business and Univision at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, at 9 p.m. ET Sept. 27.

With Mr. Trump not participating, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are scheduled to be the six on stage.

To qualify, candidates must reach 3% in two national polls or 3% in one national poll and 3% in polls of two early-primary states. They also need to have 50,000 donations, including 200 unique donors in 20 states.

After candidates have met those goals, they must sign a pledge set by the RNC that they would support the eventual nominee. Mr. Trump is the only one who has not signed it.

Candidates have until Sept. 25 to qualify and decide whether they will participate. 

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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