Republican Presidential Candidates Clash in Second Nationally Televised Debate at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Seven Republican presidential candidates met at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday for the second nationally televised debate of the 2024 GOP election. The candidates, who are all vying for the nomination against the current front-runner, former President Donald Trump, had the opportunity to make their case to the American public.

The debate was marked by disagreements and scuffles, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley saying she felt “a little dumber” every time she was around biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who promised to deport the children of undocumented immigrants. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said many people in his state don’t have health insurance because Floridians don’t believe in welfare.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Vice President Mike Pence also had a memorable moment, combining to create one of the most bizarre debate moments of all time.

No candidate was able to dominate the stage or own a singular moment, leaving the race for the GOP nomination wide open. With less than four months to go before the first ballots are cast, the candidates not named Donald Trump have a limited amount of time to make up ground against the former president.

The next Republican presidential debate is scheduled for October in Las Vegas.