With the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses less than a month and a half away, the majority of the candidates for the GOP slot on the presidential ballot will gather once again Wednesday to present themselves to voters and try to stand out from the pack.
It will once more be a smaller group of people on stage, though. With Mike Pence and Tim Scott now out of the race and Donald Trump once again not planning on attending, the remaining candidates have more of a chance to shine, but can any assume front-runner status?
Planning to watch what’s expected to be the last gathering of candidates? We've got the information you need.
When is the second Republican primary debate?
The debate will be held Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Who is hosting the first Republican debate?
NewsNation is hosting this debate. It will also air on The CW and stream on SiriusXM.
How long will the fourth Republican debate last?
The debate is scheduled to last approximately two hours.
Can I watch the Republican debate for free if I don't have cable?
This time? Yes. Since The CW will simulcast the debate, it will be available over the air. To watch, you’ll need a HD antenna.
How can I stream the Republican debate online if I don't have a cable subscription?
If you don't have a cable subscription, the RNC also plans to livestream the debate on Rumble, a video-sharing service that’s popular with conservatives. (Note that Paramount Plus does not offer live viewing of the CW.)
Additionally, there are a number of online streaming options to choose from. These include:
Disney+
Disney's bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle, which you’ll need to see the debate, bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service is no longer offered, either. It will now cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network's Sling lower-tiered "Orange" plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive "Blue" plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There's a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Which candidates will be on stage?
There will be fewer candidates on the stage this time, as the qualifying rules were more stringent. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who was at last month’s debate, did not make the cut. Here’s who that leaves behind the podiums:
- Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley
- Gov. Ron DeSantis (Florida)
- Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur
Which candidates won't be at the Republican primary debates?
The candidates who will not be on the stage include:
- Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson
- Gov. Doug Burgum (North Dakota)
What about Chris Christie?
That’s still up in the air. The Christie campaign says the former New Jersey governor hit the donor threshold to make the stage—and is polling above 6% in two national polls. It’s unclear, though, whether those polls meet the RNC’s criteria.
Where is Donald Trump?
The former president easily qualified for the debate, given his commanding lead over other candidates, but is not planning on attending. Instead, he will attend a private fundraiser.
Who is moderating the Republican debate?
The debate will be moderated by Megyn Kelly from SiriusXM, Elizabeth Vargas from NewsNation, and Eliana Johnson from The Washington Free Beacon.
Will there be a fifth Republican debate?
Right now, there’s not one scheduled, though the RNC hasn’t ruled it out entirely—and there are whispers of additional debates before the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary (which will be held on Jan. 23). Vivek Ramaswamy has called for a January debate to be held on Twitter/X and moderated by Tucker Carlson. That idea, however, has found little support so far.
