In a recent announcement by CNN, former President Donald Trump, ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have secured their places for the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate. Scheduled for January 10 in Iowa, this debate offers a crucial platform for the candidates to make a lasting impression on a national audience before the commencement of voting.
Haley and DeSantis have confirmed their participation in the debate, set to take place at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, at 9 p.m. ET. This event, occurring just five days before the Iowa caucuses initiate the GOP’s nominating race, is expected to be a head-to-head battle between Haley and DeSantis, both of whom are striving to emerge as the party’s singular, definitive alternative to Trump.
DeSantis’ prospects for the GOP nomination hinge largely on a robust performance in the Iowa caucuses on January 15. Haley, on the other hand, has been gaining traction in New Hampshire polls. A strong showing in the January 23 primary could potentially catapult her ahead of the February 24 primary in her home state.
Trump, who maintains a significant lead over the rest of the field and has abstained from the first four 2024 GOP primary debates, will be participating in a Fox News town hall in Iowa on the same day. Haley and DeSantis are also scheduled to appear on CNN for consecutive town halls on Thursday.
DeSantis has recently expressed his criticism of Trump’s refusal to participate in GOP primary debates on the campaign trail. “He’s not been willing to come here and answer questions,” DeSantis stated last week in Elkader, Iowa. “He parachutes in for a 30, 45-minute, hour speech and then just leaves, rather than listening to Iowans answering questions and doing, I think, what it takes to win.”
The Iowa debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. To qualify for the debate, candidates must secure at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNN’s standards, according to the network. One of the three polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers. The qualifying window for the polls closed at noon Tuesday.
Three candidates who have previously appeared on stage in some debates — entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson — did not meet the qualification requirements.
CNN has also announced a second debate on January 21 in New Hampshire at New England College, ahead of the state’s primary. The location was initially announced as St. Anselm College.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Kit Maher contributed to this report.