Asa Hutchinson Qualifies for First GOP Primary Debate, Donald Trump to Skip

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has met the Republican National Committee’s qualifications to participate in the first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday. Hutchinson’s campaign appears to have fulfilled the RNC’s polling threshold, according to an NBC News Political Unit analysis.

However, former President Donald Trump, who is also running for the GOP presidential nomination, has confirmed he will be skipping the debate. Trump had said for months that he saw little upside in joining his GOP rivals on stage, given his commanding lead in the race.

Trump’s campaign announced Sunday that it had also reached the minimum threshold of 40,000 unique donors to qualify for the first debate. He is also expected to sign the party’s pledge to support its eventual nominee, despite his repeated criticism of the pledge tied to his opposition to former President Donald Trump.

In a statement his campaign shared Sunday, Hutchinson said: “I am thankful to the tens of thousands of supporters who have contributed to our campaign and helped us qualify for the first debate.” It is unclear whether Hutchinson will boycott every primary debate or just those that have currently been scheduled.

The first Republican presidential primary debate will take place in Milwaukee on Wednesday. It will be the first time the GOP candidates will be on stage together and will be sponsored by the RNC.