With former President Donald Trump out of the picture, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy will be center stage for the first Republican primary debate.
With former President Donald Trump out of the picture, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy will be center stage for the first Republican primary debate.
The two candidates will share the prime position based on their poll numbers, according to an official lineup shared by Fox News on Tuesday.
A super PAC supporting Trump, meanwhile, is trolling his GOP rivals with a new website depicting them as vice presidential contenders.
And what’s next for the candidates, like Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who failed to qualify for the debate?
Here’s what to know from the campaign trail on Tuesday.Debate lineup revealed
The Republican National Committee said earlier this year the stage lineup would be determined by polling data.
With eight candidates overall qualifying for the debate, DeSantis and Ramaswamy will each be flanked by three rivals.
Former Vice President Mike Pence will stand next to DeSantis, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will stand next to Ramaswamy.
In the fifth and sixth positions are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Dug Burgum are in the seventh and eighth positions, respectively.DeSantis looks to fundraise off debate
DeSantis’ campaign will host an all-day fundraiser with donors in Milwaukee the day after the debate, sources confirmed to ABC News. The event is described similarly to the fundraising event held in Miami when DeSantis first launched his campaign back in May.
Sources also said the DeSantis team will host an after-party following the debate, which will be attended by members of his campaign, donors and surrogates.
DeSantis plans to return to the campaign trail on Thursday, traveling to Iowa.
– Hannah Demissie, Will McDuffie and Will SteakinWhat’s next for Suarez, other long-shot candidates?
Four candidates failed to make the debate stage: Suarez, former Rep.
