What to know about tonight's Republican presidential primary debate ahead of Iowa Caucuses
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
CNN will host a Republican presidential primary debate in Iowa tonight, giving caucusgoers a chance to hear what candidates have to offer in the final days leading up to the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses.
When is the Iowa debate?
Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. Iowa time.
Where will the Iowa debate be?
The debate will take place at Drake University's historic Sheslow Auditorium, 2507 University Ave., in Des Moines.
“We are honored to continue playing a central role in the democratic process at Drake University,” Drake University President Marty Martin said in a news release. “Des Moines and Drake have long been a hub for political and civic engagement on the national stage, and we are excited to carry on that tradition leading into the 2024 election, inviting our students, our community, and thousands of visitors to engage in presidential politics.”
Will there be road closures for the debate?
No, there will not be any road closures due to the debate.
What GOP presidential candidates have committed to the Iowa debate?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley are the only two Republican presidential candidates who will appear at the debate, CNN announced.
Former President Donald Trump qualified, but instead will appear on a Fox News town hall filmed in Des Moines.
While in Iowa after the fourth Republican presidential debate, DeSantis said he wants Trump to appear at the debate in Des Moines. In a statement, Haley also called on Trump to join. Trump has suggested he is not interested in attending debates in Iowa and New Hampshire, claiming he has benefited from his decisions to skip the first four.
More: The fight for 2nd place takes center stage at Republican debate in Iowa: What we're watching
Where will Donald Trump be during the Iowa debate?
Trump will appear on a Fox News Channel town hall from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. the same day as the debate. Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the town hall that will "focus on leading issues facing voters ahead of the Iowa Caucus," according to the network.
Who qualifies for the Iowa debate?
To qualify, candidates must have received at least 10% support in three separate polls that met CNN’s standards for reporting. One of the three qualifying polls must be an approved poll of Iowa likely Republican caucusgoers, like the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll.
Candidates must also:
Fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States.
File a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.
Agree to accept the rules and format of the debate.
The qualifying window for the Iowa debate closed on Jan. 2. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley did not qualify.
The Republican National Committee has announced that there will be no party-sponsored debates in January, leaving GOP candidates free to participate in any debates or forums they wish to partake in.
More: Everything you need to know about the Iowa caucuses ahead of the 2024 presidential race
Who is moderating?
CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are moderating the Iowa debate.
How can I get tickets to the Iowa debate at Drake?
The debate will be a closed audience and tickets will not be available for purchase.
How can I watch the Iowa debate?
The debate will air on CNN, CNN Max, CNN International and CNN en Español. It also will be available on demand beginning Jan. 11.
Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa GOP debate: What time is debate, how to watch tonight
