GOP presidential primary debate to be held Sept. 27 at Reagan Library in Simi Valley

The second Republican presidential primary debate will be held Sept. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, party officials said Wednesday.

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, included the date in a statement that also revealed the debate will be hosted by Fox Business. Other partners include Univision and Rumble.

“We are looking forward to continuing our fair, neutral and transparent primary process in Simi Valley to elect the next President of the United States,” McDaniel said. She originally revealed the debate site in April during an appearance at the Reagan Library.

The first debate will be held Aug. 23 in Milwaukee and will be hosted by Fox News. Former Vice President Mike Pence became the eighth and possibly last candidate to qualify for the opening debate on Monday. Former President Donald Trump has not yet committed to the debate.

Trump’s participation in the Simi debate also appears unclear. In April, he expressed concerns about the event, complaining that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute is chaired by Fred Ryan, then the publisher of The Washington Post. In a separate decision, Ryan announced months later he is leaving the Post to launch the Reagan Foundation’s new Center on Public Civility.

Reports of the Sept. 27 date circulated early this month in news stories outlining qualification standards that will toughen for the Simi debate. Politico reported on Aug. 1 the requirements include reaching 3% in two national polls or 3% in one national poll and also in two polls from early primary states. For the Milwaukee debate, candidates need at least 1 percent in different polls to qualify.

The debate will be the fifth held at the Reagan Library with the most recent in September 2015, when soon-to-be President Donald Trump and 10 other candidates sparred in the Air Force One Pavilion.

David Trulio, CEO of the Reagan Presidential Foundation, responded to Wednesday's announcement with a prepared statement released by the Republican National Committee.

“President Reagan felt strongly that the institution that bore his name should be a ‘dynamic intellectual forum’ where leaders would debate the future,” he said. "We are excited to partner with the RNC."

USA Today contributed to this report.

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: To see more stories like this, subscribe

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Republican presidential debate to be held at Reagan Library