GOP debate to be held in University of Alabama's Moody Music Building

Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News
Updated ·4 min read
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The GOP presidential debate slated for Tuscaloosa will be 7-9 p.m. Dec. 6 in the University of Alabama's Frank Moody Music Building.

As news rolled out from cable network NewsNation (formerly Superstation WGN, and WGN America) about moderators Megyn Kelly (Sirius XM), Elizabeth Vargas (NewsNation), and Eliana Johnson (editor-in-chief of the Washington Free Beacon), UA media relations released a statement:

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"The University of Alabama welcomes the Republican National Committee and its presidential candidates to our campus for their upcoming primary debate. As a public institution, UA promotes free speech and facilitates numerous opportunities for civil discourse and presentation of ideas. Our campus is honored to serve as a neutral site for the debate, and hosting the event is not an endorsement of any candidate or political party."

Kelly, formerly of Fox News and NBC News, moderated the first 2016 Republican presidential primary debate, which drew a record 84 million viewers. Vargas anchors "Elizabeth Vargas Reports" on her channel. Before joining journalism website the Free Beacon, backed by billionaire hedge fund manager and conservative activist Paul Singer, Johnson served as White House political correspondent for POLITICO.

November 8, 2023: (From L) Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, former Governor from South Carolina and UN ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and US Senator from South Carolina Tim Scott attend the third Republican presidential primary debate at the Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.

The Moody Building, a 135,000 square-foot facility, has a roughly 1,000 seat concert hall, where the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and other musicians and groups perform, a recital/lecture hall which seats 140, and various-sized rehearsal rooms, from small ensembles all the way up to the marching band, with space for 400 musicians.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released a statement: “I am thrilled to announce that the RNC has sanctioned the fourth Republican primary debate in Alabama with NewsNation, The Megyn Kelly Show, the Washington Free Beacon, and Rumble as our partners.”

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Rumble is an online video platform, web hosting and cloud services business popular with right and far-right users, and hosts Truth Social.

The debate will be broadcast live in Eastern and Central time zones on broadcast network The CW and on NewsNation's cable presence, and live-streamed on www.NewsNationnow.com and Rumble. Viewers in Mountain and Pacific time zones will be able to watch the debate live on NewsNation or see an encore presentation on CW television affiliates from 7-9 p.m. MT and 8-10 p.m. PT. Audio can be heard on SiriusXM Triumph channel 111.

Alabama GOP Chairman John Wahl also released a statement: "I am thrilled the fourth Republican presidential debate has been finalized, and that it will be in the Yellowhammer State. This is an amazing opportunity for the state of Alabama, as well as primary voters across the country. Alabama is one of the strongest Republican states in the nation, and I think it’s fitting that we host a primary debate as candidates fight for the support of conservative voters."

As with other GOP presidential debates this cycle, front-runner Donald Trump is not expected to attend. To qualify for the Tuscaloosa debate, candidates must:

  • Have reached at least 6% in two approved national polls, or 6% in one national poll with 6% in one early state poll from two separate early-voting states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina). Polling requirement must be met no later than 48 hours prior to the Dec. 6 debate, so the final slate for Tuscaloosa won't be confirmed until Dec. 4 or after.

  • Have at least 80,000 unique donors, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20 or more states or territories, which is more than the 70,000 required for Miami.

  • Sign pledges not to participate in any non-RNC-sanctioned debates; to support the eventual nominee; agreeing to the RNC data-sharing agreement. All must be signed and turned in no later than 48 hours before Dec. 6.

The highest-polling Republican presidential candidate appearing will get center stage.

Michael Corn, president of News at NewsNation said in a written release: “NewsNation’s mission is to provide fair and unbiased news coverage, and that’s the way we will approach this important debate. We take this responsibility very seriously and are proud to help inform and educate voters and to contribute to the democratic process.”

At Wednesday's Miami debate, the stage included former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: University of Alabama's Moody Music Building to host GOP debate