Republican Presidential Hopefuls to Take the Stage in California for Second GOP Debate, While Trump Speaks in Michigan

Seven Republican presidential hopefuls will take the stage Wednesday night in Simi Valley, California for the second GOP presidential debate, while former President Donald Trump will be speaking in the suburbs of Detroit.

Trump, who is leading the polls, will be absent from the debate, instead opting to speak at a non-union plant in Michigan. The former president is likely to criticize President Joe Biden’s efforts to encourage electric vehicles to fight climate change, as well as his record on auto manufacturing and workers. This follows Biden’s visit to a picket line of striking autoworkers in Michigan on Tuesday.

The debate in California will likely be a chance for the other Republican candidates to make their case for the nomination, though they are unlikely to address Trump’s greatest vulnerability: four criminal indictments that could put him in prison for decades.

The seven candidates participating in the debate are former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh, former Maryland Congressman Robert Ehrlich, and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

The debate will be moderated by Fox News anchor Bret Baier and will be broadcast on Fox News. It will be the second of four debates scheduled for the Republican presidential candidates before the primaries begin in February.