What time is the second Republican debate? How to watch Vivek Ramaswamy, others

Haadiza Ogwude and Anthony Robledo, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·3 min read
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The second debate of the 2024 presidential race is Wednesday.

Seven candidates will take the debate stage, despite eight appearing at last month's two-hour showdown in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Some candidates have risen in the polls since the first debate in late August, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur and Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy.

So when and where is the debate? Where can you stream the Republican matchup? How is Vivek Ramaswamy doing in the polls?

Here's everything you need to know.

What time is the Republican debate?

The second GOP presidential debate begins at 9 p.m. E.T. Wednesday, Sept. 27.

Where is the Republican debate?

The Republican debate is at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California.

Where to watch the second Republican debate

Fox Business Network will air the debate, with pre-coverage starting at 6 p.m. E.T. Post-debate coverage will run through 1 a.m., per The New York Times.

Fox News will also show the debate, with coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. The channel's streaming service, Fox Nation, will broadcast it.

Viewers can also watch the debate in Spanish through Univision, UnivisionNoticias.com and the streaming platform ViX.

The Republican National Committee will also stream the event on the video-sharing platform Rumble.

Who is moderating the Republican debate?

Fox News Media's Stuart Varney and Dana Perino and Univision's Ilia Calderón will co-moderate the second Republican presidential debate.

According to USA TODAY, Calderón will be the first Afro-Latina to moderate a Republican primary debate.

Which Republicans will be at the second debate? Is Donald Trump coming?

Republican presidential candidates (L-R), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum during the first Republican primary debate of the 2024 presidential race.

Former President Donald Trump will not appear in Wednesday's GOP presidential primary debate. Trump also missed the first primary debate last month.

Trump cites his strong lead in the polls as reason for not participating in the debates. Trump leads with 58% support in the latest polling by Morning Consult. DeSantis follows with 13%, then Ramaswamy with 10% and Haley and Pence, tied with 5%.

Former two-term Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will not participate either, despite appearing at the first debate in August.

Here are the seven candidates taking the stage Wednesday:

  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

  • Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

  • Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

  • U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

  • Former Vice President Mike Pence.

  • Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

  • North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Who won the last Republican debate?

Of the participating candidates, Ramaswamy garnered the most attention during the first Republican primary debate.

The 38-year-old from Cincinnati received the most attacks from his opponents, clashing with Pence, Haley and Christie. With Ramaswamy rising in the polls, the focus was mainly on his inexperience in elected office.

Trump, who skipped the first GOP presidential debate, declared Ramaswamy the winner in his absence after the biotech entrepreneur called Trump "the best president of the 21st century."

"This answer gave Vivek Ramaswamy a big WIN in the debate because of a thing called TRUTH," Trump posted on Truth Social with a clip of Ramaswamy's comments. "Thank you Vivek!"

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?

Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy is one of six GOP candidates participating in Wednesday’s debate at Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California.
Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy is one of six GOP candidates participating in Wednesday’s debate at Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California.

Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of Evendale and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 2003. The 38-year-old has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School, where he graduated with U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, a fellow southwest Ohio native.

Ramaswamy founded the pharmaceutical research company Roivant Sciences in 2014 and Strive Asset Management, an investment firm that aims to persuade companies to stay out of politics and social issues, in 2022. He's also the author of three books, including "Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam."

Ramaswamy entered the presidential race earlier this year promising to out-Trump former President Donald Trump. He has since campaigned heavily in Iowa and New Hampshire, and some recent polls show him competing with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place nationally.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Republican debate: What channel is it tonight? Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?