As the race for the Republican nomination approaches its fourth primary debate, new eyes are now on four GOP candidates looking to emerge as the party’s presidential nominee.
Just a few months after ten Republicans took to the stage for the first primary debate in Cleveland, Ohio, only four of those candidates have achieved the qualification requirements set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) for the most recent debate.
Incumbent President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, and former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh all achieved the 2% polling threshold and over 130,00 donors in the lead-up to the September 2019 debate, earning them the status of official contenders in the race for the Republican nomination.
Though these candidates are not widely favored by voting polls, the RNC required a two percent threshold across the first four eligible national polls to qualify for the debate. Seeking to stop the spread of alternative candidates, the party also increased its donor and polling criteria as the primary season progressed.
The four-man contest indicates the gulf between the incumbent president and the basic requirements that the RNC has put forward for the nomination race. At the same time, the four contenders bring new perspectives to the discussion and present the opportunity for the Republican party to explore a range of alternatives.
The Republican party welcomed its fourth and final debate on Wednesday. With the presence of some of the least-favored contenders in the race, it will be interesting to see how the race plays out and how the party ultimately decides its presidential nominee.