Republicans to hold first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee 

The Republican National Committee (RNC) voted on Thursday to hold the first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee in August.  

The debate will coincide with the RNC Summer Meeting. The Republican National Convention will also be held in Milwaukee in 2024.  

“At this time, no other debates have been sanctioned, nor has the final criteria for the first debate been decided,” RNC. chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in an email to members on Thursday.

“The committee will continue its work and will release updates as they become available.”

"We have a long way to go, but I am confident we will be able to showcase our eventual nominee in a world-class fashion," McDaniel added.

The committee is also seeking to have candidates sign a pledge vowing to support the nominee in order to be part of the debates.

The pledge had been discussed during the 2016 campaign after Trump said he would decline to join other contenders in backing the nominee. 

So far, two major candidates have entered the race for the Republican nomination, including former President Donald J. Trump and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.

Other candidates that have announced their nomination include “Anti-woke” entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, Steve Laffey. 

More campaigns are expected to be announced in the coming months. Potential Republican presidential candidates include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.