RNC will require debate participants to support eventual nominee

The candidates will have until Aug. 21 — 48 hours before the debate — to meet the criteria. Polls conducted prior to July 1 won’t count toward qualification.

The new standards appear designed to prevent the free-for-all, circus-like debates that occurred in the 2016 Republican primaries. Though it’s too soon to know which candidates will clear the thresholds, the criteria are likely to be difficult for at least some hopefuls to clear.

A smaller stage could benefit Ron DeSantis, who wants a one-on-one matchup with former President Donald Trump. The former president is welcoming a large field to splinter the opposition to him.

In 2016, the GOP limited the candidates on stage to the top 10 candidates in polls conducted by nationally recognized organizations. The party did offer a second debate for candidates outside the top 10 who were “consistently being offered” as choices in national polls.

In the 2020 Democratic primary, candidates polling 2 percent or higher were randomly assigned one of two debate nights featuring 10 candidates each. Candidates polling below the 2 percent threshold were also randomly assigned to either debate. Alternatively, Democrats could meet the 65,000 donor minimum to qualify for the debate. The formula allowed candidates with low-name recognition the chance to go tête-à-tête with nationally recognized names.