Only five Republican presidential candidates will take the debate stage in Miami on Wednesday night, and former president Donald Trump will once again skip the showdown. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum did not make the stage after he failed to meet the polling and fundraising criteria set by the Republican National Committee, having previously qualified for the first two debates. Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson also did not qualify, having only made the first debate.
The RNC has raised the threshold to qualify for each debate. To participate in Miami, candidates had to show at least 4 percent support in two national polls or in one national poll and two statewide polls from early nominating states. They also had to prove they have at least 70,000 unique donors, including at least 200 each in 20 or more states.
On Monday evening, the RNC announced the five candidates who met the standard: former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
Trump — the polling frontrunner for the nomination — will once again skip the event in favor of a campaign rally in Hialeah, Florida. He previously skipped the last two debates, instead participating in an interview with Tucker Carlson and appearing at a non-union venue in Michigan during the United Auto Workers union strike.
Former vice president Mike Pence suspended his campaign since the last debate in Simi Valley in September.
The Burgum campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
