GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign announced Saturday that he has officially met the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) fundraising and polling criteria to participate in debates.
Last month, the RNC announced for candidates to participate in debates, they must have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors to their principal presidential campaign committee (or exploratory committee), with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20+ states and/or territories.
Ramaswamy’s campaign noted that he achieved the RNC’s donor criteria in May 2023 and currently has over 65,000 unique donors.
In addition, candidates are required to poll at least 1 percent in three national polls or 1 percent in two national polls and 1 percent in one early state poll from two separate “carve out” states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina) recognized by the RNC in order to participate in debates.
Ramaswamy’s campaign highlighted the following four recent polls where he meets the criteria:
- Morning Consult, July 9-12: Vivek Ramaswamy at 8 percent (3rd place)
- Morning Consult, July 14-16: Vivek Ramaswamy at 8 percent (3rd place)
- Kaplan Strategies, July 17-18: Vivek Ramaswamy at 12 percent (2nd place)
- Harvard/Harris, July 19-20: Vivek Ramaswamy at 10 percent (3rd place)
“The RNC’s debate stage criteria are stringent but fair,” Ramaswamy said in a statement. “I am a first-time candidate who started with very low name ID, no political donors, and no pre-existing fundraising lists. If an outsider can clear the bar, politically experienced candidates should be able to as well: if you can’t hit these metrics by late August, you have absolutely no chance of defeating Joe Biden in the general election.”
The RNC also requires candidates to sign a pledge agreeing to support the eventual party nominee to participate in the debates, to which Ramaswamy says he “intends to sign.”
The first Republican presidential primary debate will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 23.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Vivek Ramaswamy” by Vivek Ramaswamy. Background Photo “Debate Stage” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 3.0.
