DeSantis Commits to Third January Debate Appearance

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gestures as he speaks during the fourth Republican presidential primary debate at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 6, 2023. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

One day after Florida’s next legislative session begins, Gov. Ron DeSantis will enter a campaign gauntlet that now includes three debates in less than two weeks.

The governor’s campaign announced on Dec. 29 that he accepted CNN’s invitation to appear in its own New Hampshire primary debate on Jan. 21 at the New England College campus in Henniker. Meanwhile, he is already committed to appearing in CNN’s Iowa debate on Jan. 10—five days before the first-in-the-nation caucuses—and ABC’s New Hampshire debate on Jan. 18.

“Given the short amount of time between the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire’s primary, participating in multiple debates on different networks is the best way for Granite State voters to hear the contrast between the candidates as well as their closing arguments,” said DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo in a press release. “Nikki Haley’s recent flub about the cause of the Civil War shows that she isn’t ready for primetime, but this debate will give her an opportunity to finally clean up her mess with the people of New Hampshire. And for Donald Trump, this debate will provide him with the perfect setting to stop cowering behind his teleprompter and step into the arena.”

Mr. DeSantis has propped himself up throughout the year as the candidate most eager to debate, going so far as to debate California Gov. Gavin Newsom one-on-one on Fox News’ “Hannity,” and his campaign’s challenge to Ms. Haley and former President Donald Trump is only the latest to be made this year.

Ms. Haley committed to appearing at CNN’s Iowa debate, but there is still no confirmation of her appearance in New Hampshire. President Trump, still holding a commanding lead in the polls, has chosen to miss every Republican debate so far.

Current Polling

CNN’s New Hampshire debate before the first-in-the-nation primary requires, among other things, that candidates poll at 10 percent in three separate New Hampshire or national polls of GOP voters. These latest primary debates arose after the Republican National Committee voted on Dec. 8 to allow its presidential candidates to participate in unsanctioned debates.

Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley are first scheduled to appear on CNN for back-to-back town halls at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 4, with Florida’s governor going on at 9 p.m. EST and the former ambassador and South Carolina governor following behind at 10 p.m. EST.

The latest polls from FiveThirtyEight show President Trump leading Iowa, averaging about 50 percent, with Mr. DeSantis in second with 18.4 percent and Ms. Haley in third with 15.7 percent.

In New Hampshire, FiveThirtyEight shows President Trump averaging 44.1 percent, while Ms. Haley is averaging 25.7 percent and Mr. DeSantis trails with 7.6 percent.

Mr. DeSantis carries the endorsement of Iowa’s Gov. Kim Reynolds, while Ms. Haley was endorsed by New Hampshire’s Gov. Chris Sununu.