The Artist Formerly Known as Debate Tracker

Tracker of debates

[Addisu Demissie @ASDem]

Yes on 50 has now qualified for the September debate.

[Zach Montellaro @ZachMontellaro]

Six candidates have qualified for the first GOP presidential primary debate after a pair of Fox polls were released this A.M., according to POLITICO's tracking: Trump, Haley, DeSantis, Scott, Ramaswamy and Christie.

The latest, from me and @POLITICO_Steve https://t.co/44fDmeIi5e

[Zach Montellaro @ZachMontellaro]

And to my longtime followers, this means the return of something big ... ~*~the spreadsheet ~*~ is back! We have big plans at @politico for debate tracking, but for now, old reliable returns https://t.co/DycikmAxCb

[Zach Montellaro @ZachMontellaro]

The FIRST Republican presidential primary debate qualifying poll is here! This MoCo poll counts, the RNC confirmed to @POLITICO_Steve and me, giving eight candidates their first qualifier — including two big Trump critics. More from me and Steve https://t.co/RdRaMxYSdG

[Fox News @FoxNews]

Fox News' Bret Baier, Martha MacCallum named moderators of first Republican debate https://t.co/twRBppUmvI

[Nathaniel Rakich @baseballot]

Here's @geoffreyvs's first of what will be MANY analyses of the 2024 GOP debate criteria: https://t.co/YY5nZLb8Ro

[Geoffrey Skelley @geoffreyvs]

Setting polling criteria for debate qualification isn't necessarily easy. But a strict interpretation of >=800 likely voters would be a tough threshold. I'm seeing 7 qualifying polls since Jan. 1! 4 of them from Trafalgar. https://t.co/spgOIPQQkB

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

The RNC announces the requirements for the first primary debate on August 23 and says "should enough candidates qualify to make it necessary, there will be a second debate on August 24."

[David Wright @DavidWright_7]

The RNC has released the criteria to qualify for presidential primary debates:

[Max Tani @maxwelltani]

More from the newsletter: Several news organizations including the New York Times and Politico opted against partnering with the RNC to host a GOP presidential debate over fears about cost and brand concerns.

https://t.co/lafvvGtdba

[Geoffrey Skelley @geoffreyvs]

Context: For the first 2 debates in 2019, Democrats required candidates to poll at least 1% in 3 qualifying polls, *OR* have at least 65k donors. It wasn't until the 3rd debate that candidates had to meet both criteria (at that point, 2% in 4 qualifying polls + 130k donors).

[Zach Montellaro @ZachMontellaro]

If I can relive my 2020 debate nerdiness for a moment: The ~and~ part would be interesting. For the first round of DNC debates last cycle, it was a polling OR donor threshold for early debates, not both. GOP also isn't facing nearly as big of a field as Dems then

[Mini Racker @MiniRacker]

Scoop: The RNC is still finalizing the criteria presidential candidates will have to meet to make the first debate stage in August.

But the buzz is around two numbers: a 1% polling threshold and a 40,000 donor requirement.

https://t.co/yvqEtpJy0w

[Maggie Haberman @maggieNYT]

NEW: Trump is likely to sit out one or both of the first two GOP presidential debates, per several people who've spoken with him. @jonathanvswan me https://t.co/dmQRT1X06w

[Nathaniel Rakich @baseballot]

Not sure yet what's happening to me, but I'm heartbroken regardless. You guys see how smart the 538 staff is on a daily basis, but what you don't see is what incredibly good & kind people they are. It's been the pleasure of a lifetime to work with them.

[Alayna Treene @alaynatreene]

NEWS: RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel announces the second GOP presidential primary date will be at the Reagan Presidential Library

[David Weigel @daveweigel]

Most interesting part of this — media partners are YAF and Rumble. Part of long-term RNC goal of making trad media less relevant in party debates. (See also RNC pulling out of CPD debates after 2020.)

[Fox News @FoxNews]

BREAKING NEWS: Fox News will host first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee

https://t.co/i9lKmOiEKL

[Amy Walter @amyewalter]

Said it once. I’ll say it again & again. Polls of 2024 GOP primary mean nothing until we have debates. The Aug. ‘15 debate had 24M viewers. This will be as big or bigger. GOP voters will see for themselves if DeSantis has glass jaw or effective punch.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Debate Tracker @TrackerDebate]

As we head into the 2024 GOP debate season and wait for full official rules, reported requirements include a nominee loyalty pledge, and some kind of donor and polling threshold.

For some context, these were the requirements for the 2016 GOP main stage presidential debates: