What to know about the third Republican presidential debate

Only four candidates have qualified for the third debate so far.

Oct 16, 2023 - 21:08
What to know about the third Republican presidential debate

Republican presidential candidates will go head-to-head for a third time at next month's primary debate. This time, we're sure to see fewer candidates on stage as stricter debate qualifications continue to whittle down the pack.

Four candidates have qualified for the third debate so far, according to POLITICO’s GOP presidential debate tracker, leaving the rest rushing to get over the finish line before the Nov. 6 deadline.

Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming debate:

When is the third Republican debate?

The third Republican debate will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 8 to 10 p.m. EST.

How can I watch the debate?

The debate will be available on the live television, streaming and digital platforms of NBC News, including streaming on NBCNews.com. The debate can also be viewed on Rumble, an online video platform used heavily among conservatives.

Where will the debate be hosted?

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami, Fla., will be home to the next debate.

Who’s moderating the debate?

TBD. The moderators will be announced at a later date.

What are the qualifications for making the third debate?

Candidates must hit at least 4 percent in two national polls, or 4 percent in one national poll and 4 percent in polls of two different early-primary states. Candidates also need to have 70,000 donors to make it to the debate stage — all by the Nov. 6 deadline.

Who’s qualified for the third Republican debate so far?

So far, former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley have qualified for the debate.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence have met the polling requirements but still need to hit 70,000 donors. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) still needs to hit 4 percent in one national poll and needs to reach 70,000 donors.


Trump, who remains the Republican frontrunner in national polls, did not attend the last two debates. His campaign has made it clear that they believe the RNC should cancel all future primary debates and instead focus on training “our fire on Crooked Joe Biden and quit wasting time and money that could be going to evicting Biden from the White House.”