ABC to host New Hampshire GOP primary debate in January

MANCHESTER, N.H. – ABC News and WMUR-TV will host a Republican presidential primary debate on Jan. 18, 2024, the network announced.

The debate is set to occur just a few days before the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary.

“ABC News is excited to host this Republican debate with our partners in the nation’s first primary state of New Hampshire,” said ABC News President Kim Godwin. “Our powerhouse political team has been working hard on this debate to provide our audience with the opportunity to hear from the candidates at this decisive moment in the primary race.”

ABC announced their upcoming debate along with CNN being set to host two in the same month.

CNN will host a debate in Iowa on Jan. 10 at Drake University. That debate takes place just a few days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15.

Soon after, CNN will host another debate at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire on Jan. 21.

During Wednesday’s fourth Republican debate on NewsNation, just four candidates qualified to participate.

CNN outlined the following debate requirements for each candidate to meet.

Iowa: Candidates need at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of GOP caucus-goers meeting CNN’s standards, one of which must be an “approved CNN poll.” The qualifying window closes Jan. 2.

New Hampshire: Candidates need at least 10% in three separate national and/or New Hampshire polls of GOP primary voters meeting CNN’s standards, one of which must be an “approved CNN poll.” Additionally, any candidate who places in the top three during the prior Iowa caucuses will be invited. The qualifying window closes Jan. 16.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy qualified for the prior debate.

Under current polling averages, all of the candidates except Christie and Ramaswamy average at or above 10%. However, as CNN noted, only a few approved polls are required for entry.

ABC has not yet reported its exact debate qualifications or format.