The 2024 GOP presidential debate stage is shrinking after the Republican National Committee announced late Monday that seven candidates are set to participate in the second debate -- down one from their first clash.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum met the RNC's heightened polling and fundraising standards for Wednesday's debate, the party announced. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who appeared in the first Republican presidential primary debate, did not. Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, is skipping the event.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
