Republican debate: What to know before candidates face off at Reagan Library in Simi Valley

Frontrunner Donald Trump will be in Michigan. But seven Republicans are set to explain why they should be the country’s next president on Wednesday in the fifth primary debate held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley since 2007.

Who’s on the hottest seat? Can anyone actually win the debate? Why does the Republican National Committee keep coming back to Simi?

Here’s what we know headed into the second GOP debate of the 2024 election cycle.

When is the second GOP debate and what channel is it on?

The two-hour debate is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Fox Business Network, Fox News and Univision will broadcast it. Rumble will provide a livestream.

Which Republican candidates have qualified for a spot on stage?

Candidates had until 6 p.m. Monday to qualify for the debate. To do that, they needed 50,000 different campaign donors, at least 3% in different polls and to sign a so-called “Beat Biden” pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee.

Seven candidates met the qualifications: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence; South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Will former President Donald Trump attend the debate?

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he won’t participate in the Simi Valley event. USA Today reported Monday that his campaign confirmed he will skip the debate and instead fly to Michigan for a speech to striking auto workers and other union members.

Trump, the GOP frontrunner by far, has met the polling and fundraising criteria for the event but has not signed the party loyalty pledge.

Who will be in the hot seat?

Ramaswamy, the firebrand candidate from Ohio, showed he could deflect in the first debate but likely will need to deliver a little more substance this time, said Haco Hoang, a political science professor at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

DeSantis also will need to come out strong, she said.

At this point, a normal debate would have people attacking the front-runner, said Tim Allison, a political scientist at CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo. But this is anything but a normal debate.

"You have one candidate who is ahead by 40 percentage points," he said. "The other candidates are trying to decide whether they are auditioning for vice president or they're just waiting in the wings, hoping that the front-runner stumbles."

How important is the Simi Valley debate?

In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a debate that will make an impact on a presidential race, Allison said, contending the election could be determined in the court of opinion and the court of law. Trump, the GOP frontrunner, faces four indictments.

"At this point, I think everybody, including voters, are just waiting to see what will happen next," he said. "I doubt anything will change based on the debate."

Who will moderate?

The toughest job of the night will be shared by Stuart Varney and Dana Perino, both of Fox, and Ilia Calderón of Univision. They’ll face the challenge of keeping the debaters in line, on topic and on time.

Can I go to the debate?

Not unless you have pretty serious connections. No tickets are available for the general public. About 735 seats have been divvied up among the Reagan Foundation, the Republican National Committee, Fox Business News and other sponsors. Each candidate at the debate also receives 10 tickets.

More than 400 media members are also expected. Most of them will be watching the debate on large video screens from a tent on the library’s South Lawn.

Why is the debate the Reagan Library in Simi Valley?

Wednesday’s event marks the fifth primary debate held at the Reagan Library since May 4, 2007, when a field of 10 candidates sparred, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain, who eventually won the nomination.

The last debate came on Sept. 16, 2015, and featured 15 candidates separated into two groups. Many of the hopefuls in the primetime tier took turns taking on Trump who went on to win the nomination and the presidency.

If you can’t figure out why the GOP keeps coming back to the presidential library, just count how many times Ronald Reagan’s name is mentioned by candidates Wednesday night.

“Reagan is a Republican party icon and hero,” said Tom Hollihan, a USC communications professor who studies media and politics. He also cited the visual attractions of a debate pavilion that features Reagan’s Air Force One jet and the proximity to Southern California’s media empire.

“Los Angeles is where a lot of news gets produced,” he said. “The assumption is there will be generous news coverage.”

Will there be protesters?

Count on it, though it's not clear how many people will gather at Madera Road and Presidential Drive. John Lapper, Democrat and rally organizer, estimates 100 people will protest what he calls the Republican agenda. Other rallies include a group of Trump supporters with signs bearing Make America Great Again themes. The library will be closed to the public Wednesday and no protesters will be allowed on the grounds.

What key issues can you expect?

It will be interesting to see if daylight emerges between the candidates on abortion, Allison said.

"I think the voters are paying attention to that — the broader general public, as well as specifically Republican voters," he said.

Hoang said other topics, from the economy to whether the country or party is headed in the right direction, also are likely to emerge as top issues.

How does someone win the debate?

Allison doesn't know if there is a way to win.

"They can get some attention from the debate. They can be the one that's attacked most or be the one that spends the most time talking or be the one with the best one-liner," the political scientist said. "They can get some coverage and some attention. But I don't think any of these candidates will truly win the debate."

Right now, it is kind of like wanting a position that's not currently open. Candidates are waiting in the wings, hoping the dynamics change or to get enough attention to be Trump's running mate, Allison said.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260. Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: GOP debate: What to know before candidates face off in Simi Valley