Conservative pundit Larry Elder and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson announced on Aug. 22 they will sue the Republican National Committee for being snubbed from the Aug. 23 debate despite their claims that they met the RNC’s requirements for the debate.
The RNC announced on Aug. 22 that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum qualified for the debate.
“I intend to sue the RNC to halt Wednesday’s presidential debate,”said Mr. Elder, who previously worked for The Epoch Times, in a post on X.
“I said from the beginning that it appeared the rules of the game were rigged, little did we know just how rigged it is,” he continued. “For some reason, the establishment leaders at the RNC are afraid of having my voice on the debate stage. Just as I had to fight to successfully be on the ballot in the California recall election, I will fight to be on that debate stage because I fully met all of the requirements to do so.”
Mr. Elder included a statement with a list of bullet points including his claim that he met the required thresholds to make the debate stage.
“It is clear that from the beginning, the RNC knew who they wanted on the stage and who they wanted to ban from the stage,” Mr. Johnson said. “Simply put, this is a flawed decision of a poorly run process of a corrupt organization.”
How to Qualify for the Debate
The RNC’s requirements for getting onto the first debate stage included polling at least 1 percent in three national polls, or polling 1 percent in two national polls plus 1 percent in a poll recognized by the RNC in two of the early states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.Another requirement for candidates was having 40,000 unique donors to their principal presidential campaign committee, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in more than 20 states and/or territories.
Finally, a notable requirement included signing a pledge to support the eventual party nominee.
In the pledge, the candidates consent “to appear in only primary and general election debates that have been sanctioned by the Republican National Committee, pursuant to Rule 10(a)(11) of The Rules of the Republican Party. I acknowledge and accept that if I fail to sign this pledge or if I participate in any debate that has not been sanctioned by the Republican National Committee, I will not be eligible to participate in any further Republican National Committee sanctioned debates.”
The pledge goes on to state: “Additionally, I affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination for President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the 2024 Republican presidential nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden.
“I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party.”
Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the debate, which will be at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Former President Donald Trump, who has an overwhelming lead in the polls, will not be participating.
