When will the first Republican candidate debate take place? Today's start time and how to watch

Ron DeSantis is among the candidates who will take part in the debate. Photo: Charlie Nybergall/AP

Ron DeSantis and several other Republican candidates will come face-to-face on the debate stage for the first time in Milwaukee tonight.

The debate effectively kicks off the race for the Republican presidential nomination party in 2024.

When is the first Republican debate?

The debate will take place at the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wednesday at 8:00 pm local time. It's 9pm ET, 6pm PT and 2am UK.

Wisconsin is one of the most politically competitive states in the country, and Democrats and Republicans will have to fight hard to win there on presidential elections in 2024. .

The Republicans plan to hold their national convention in the state in about 11 months, where they will formally nominate a candidate to take on Joe Biden.

Where to watch the debate

To qualify, candidates must meet a minimum threshold in the national polls or state level and receive donations from at least 40,000 unique donors.

The event is attended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Senator. Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence, multi-millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Bergum, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. that each candidate sign a pledge stating that they will support the future Republican candidate.

Perry Johnson and Larry Elder expressed his disappointment after being removed from the list.

Mr. Elder said he intended to sue the NRC to stop the debate in a tweet. Mr. Johnson reportedly made a similar threat.

1708 trump poll

However, only one significant character is missing from the scene: Donald Trump.

Although he has kept his distance, the former president and distant leader is likely to take up a significant seat in the room, actively answering questions posed by those on stage.

What questions will candidates be polled on?

Questions candidates will be asked have not yet been identified. But one Fox moderator, Martha McCallum, indicated that each candidate would be questioned about their stance on abortion and Trump's criminal cases.

Both topics are complex. While the party's conservative base favors strict restrictions on abortion, many more moderate Republicans disagree, as do most independent voters, whose votes will be decisive in the general election.

On the subject of the allegations Trump, most Republicans view the allegations he faces as politically motivated, making the topic dangerous for his rivals.

What is Trump doing instead?

Never succumbing to the spotlight, Mr. Trump decided to give an interview conservative commentator. and former Fox host Tucker Carlson.

The interview has reportedly already been taped and could be aired as an anti-debate program.

Trump's decision to skip the debate has become clear. was criticized by its competitors. But he justified his decision by citing his «legendary» poll results.

«The public knows who I am,» he said.

Mr. Trump leads the way in this area with 34 points according to the survey. to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, and appearing on stage with his rivals will likely do more to advance them than he does.