RNC Announces Criteria for First Primary Debate of 2020 Presidential Election Season, Intensifying Competition Among Republican Hopefuls

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has announced the criteria for the first primary debate of the 2020 presidential election season, set to take place in Milwaukee on August 23. To qualify, candidates must prove they have 40,000 individual donors, with at least 200 from 20 different states or territories, while also polling at least at 1% and promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.

The announcement has intensified the competition among Republican presidential hopefuls, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. On Saturday, DeSantis capped off his first week on the campaign trail as the final speaker at Sen. Joni Ernst’s “Roast & Ride” event, which also hosted several other Republican presidential hopefuls.

In his speech, DeSantis made clear overtures to the first presidential primary state, Iowa, and wrapped into his claim of electability in 2024. “There’s no substitute for victory, and we need to dispense with the culture of losing that has been set by the Republican Party in recent years,” DeSantis said.

The RNC has stated that the criteria for the debate is designed to ensure a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process. With the criteria now formalized, candidates must now focus on meeting the requirements in order to participate in the Milwaukee debate.

The race for the GOP nomination is heating up, and the RNC’s announcement of the criteria for the first primary debate is sure to add fuel to the fire. With the debate just over a month away, candidates are now in a race against the clock to meet the criteria and qualify for the debate.