Doug Burgum Qualifies for First Republican Presidential Primary Debate

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is one of the Republican candidates vying for the 2020 presidential nomination. As the first Republican presidential primary debate approaches on August 23rd, Burgum’s campaign has announced that he has qualified for the debate.

To qualify for the debate, the Republican National Committee requires that candidates reach at least 1% in multiple eligible polls, gather at least 40,000 donors, and sign a pledge committing to supporting the ultimate GOP nominee. Burgum’s campaign announced in late July that he qualified for the first debate, following Burgum offering donors $20 gift cards for $1 donations.

Burgum’s spokesman said the governor “is looking forward to sharing his vision for the future of the country” at the debate. However, a Republican operative aligned with a rival candidate said everyone who will be onstage has to prepare for President Donald Trump, even if he is not in the room.

“You are going to have to prepare like he’s in the room,” said the operative, who wasn’t authorized to speak on the record. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley echoed this sentiment, saying that if Burgum is not on the debate stage, then he is taking the chance that everyone will talk about his record and why he is not on the stage.

“We’ll see if he’s scared to get on a debate stage, but I would expect him to get up there,” Haley said Saturday in an interview at the Iowa State Fair. The first Republican presidential primary debate will take place on August 23rd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.