Suarez fails to make debate stage after saying candidates who don’t qualify ‘shouldn’t stay in the race’

MILWAUKEE (FLV) – Miami Mayor Francis Suarez failed to qualify for the first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday, according to a Republican National Committee press release.

Suarez said during an Aug. 17 Fox News interview that any candidate who doesn’t qualify for the first debate “shouldn’t stay in the race” and “think long and hard” about dropping out before the second debate.

“It’s very hard to get to a higher threshold to make the second debate if you’re not even on the first debate,” he explained.

“You shouldn’t be taking away time or trying to take away time from people who are fighting to get their message out there,” Suarez said.

The Miami mayor said Friday that he had met “all the criteria” to qualify for the debate in Milwaukee on a now-deleted social media post.

“Now, I will renew my efforts to tell America about how I’ve used conservative ideas to turn Miami into a shining example of what our party can be,” the post said.

Additionally, Suarez reinforced his comments during an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, expressing how he had hit all of the fundraising requirements at the beginning of August and later met the polling requirements set forth by the Republican National Committee.

The committee established fundraising and polling requirements as well as a loyalty pledge in order for GOP presidential candidates to qualify.

Candidates were required to raise money from 40,000 unique campaign donors, including a minimum of 200 unique donors in at least 20 states.

Additionally, the presidential hopefuls had to get at least 1% in three national polls or receive 1% in two national polls and one early state poll from two unique early primary states.

Finally, candidates had to sign the GOP loyalty pledge, agreeing to endorse whichever candidate becomes the party nominee.

On Monday, the party released the official list of contenders in the first debate that is scheduled for Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are the official candidates who have qualified for the first debate.

“The RNC is excited to showcase our diverse candidate field and the conservative vision to beat Joe Biden on the debate stage Wednesday night,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said.