Republican Primary Debate Sees Lowest Viewership Since 2015, Despite RNC Confidence in Platform

The second Republican primary debate of the 2024 election cycle saw the lowest viewership since the debates began in 2015, according to Nielsen ratings. This is the third-least-viewed debate since the start of the 2016 cycle, when former President Donald Trump first became a candidate, and the lowest TV audience for any Republican presidential debate since then.

The debate, which was held without Trump, attracted about 12.8 million viewers, a steep drop from the first debate. Outlets like The New York Times and NBC News have suggested that this drop in viewership could be due to a lack of interest in the other Republican candidates as Trump leads them in the polls.

The debate comes at a time when the TV and streaming world has changed significantly over the last eight years, which could explain some of the audience slippage. Despite this, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has expressed confidence in the debates and their ability to draw viewers.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement that the debates “have been a great opportunity for the American people to hear from the candidates and learn more about their plans to lead our country.” She added that the RNC is “confident that the debates will continue to be a great platform for the candidates to share their vision for the future of our country.”

The RNC has yet to announce the date and location of the third Republican primary debate. Until then, it remains to be seen whether the viewership will increase or if the lack of interest in the other candidates will continue.