The Republican National Committee won’t drop its debate requirement to support the party’s eventual presidential nominee even amid backlash from some GOP candidates who say they’ll refuse to back former President Donald Trump, who has emerged as the early front-runner.
At least two candidates so far, former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), said they would sign the pledge in order to become eligible for participation in the GOP primary debates. However, the two have raised questions about whether they’d actually follow through with that promise, prompting criticism from RNC leaders.
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“Individuals who are seeking the Republican nomination for president are being asked to respect the decision of Republican primary voters and support the eventual nominee they pick to beat Biden," RNC senior adviser Richard Walters told the Washington Examiner in a statement. "Candidates who are complaining about this to the press should seriously reconsider their priorities and whether they should even be running."
The RNC announced a slew of requirements for candidates to appear on the debate stage during the 2024 primary cycle, which includes a loyalty pledge to support the party’s eventual nominee. Party leaders have remained adamant about upholding that criterion and have declined efforts to exempt any candidates.
Hutchinson has called on the RNC to provide an exception if Trump is chosen, arguing candidates should not be forced to pledge support if a nominee is “found guilty of espionage or a serious felony.”
“Donald Trump is the target of an ongoing criminal investigation and he should step aside & put the good of the country above his candidacy,” Hutchinson tweeted, referring to Trump’s two criminal indictments and involvement in a number of other criminal investigations.
The former governor said he would request the RNC adjust the language in the pledge, Hutchinson told Politico earlier this week. Hutchinson also indicated he would speak with other GOP candidates to push similar requests.
Christie has made similar threats, noting he would sign the pledge in order to get on the debate stage but hinted he wouldn’t necessarily follow through.
"I'll be on the debate stage, and I will take the pledge that the RNC puts in front of me just as seriously as Donald Trump did eight years ago," he told ABC News, arguing Trump "absolutely disregarded" the party’s pledge in 2016 but faced no punishment after becoming the nominee.
Christie has repeatedly said he would not support Trump if he is the Republican nominee in 2024.
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In order to qualify for the debate stage, candidates must hit 1% in three qualifying national polls conducted after July 1 with a sample size of at least 800 registered voters who are likely to vote Republican. Candidates must also secure donations from at least 40,000 unique contributors.
Neither Hutchinson nor Christie has met the requirements to qualify for primary debates, with both candidates scrambling to reach the thresholds before the first scheduled debate on Aug. 23 in Wisconsin.