Fox News announces moderators for first GOP debate.

Exciting news! FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace has just announced that anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will be co-moderating the first Republican presidential primary debate for the 2024 election. This is a debate you won’t want to miss!

The debate will be exclusively broadcasted on FNC from 9-11 p.m. ET on August 23 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stay tuned for more special programming surrounding the debate, which will be announced at a later date.

“We are extremely proud to have Bret and Martha moderating the first debate of the 2024 presidential election season as Americans learn more about the candidates ahead of exercising their constitutional right to vote,” said Wallace, according to the Fox News press release.

The network has praised the qualifications of the moderators, stating, “Throughout their tenures at the network, Baier and MacCallum have each played pivotal roles in the coverage of every major political event.

“Most recently, they co-anchored special programming for President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address, the 2022 midterm elections, the 2020 presidential election, and the 2018 midterms. Their unrivaled political coverage has consistently ranked number one in all of television, surpassing cable news and broadcast coverage for the past five years.”

Baier is the principal political correspondent and executive editor of cable news’ highest-rated newscast, Special Report with Bret Baier (6-7 p.m./ET), while MacCallum anchors and is the executive editor of The Story with Martha MacCallum (3-4 p.m./ET), the highest-rated news program in its time slot.

Debate Details

Earlier this month, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel unveiled the details for the first Republican presidential primary debate, revealing the criteria that candidates must meet to qualify for the event.

The qualifications are divided into four categories: candidate status, polling, fundraising, and candidate pledging, according to an RNC press release on June 2.

If the number of qualifying candidates necessitates, a second debate will be held on August 24. McDaniel expressed her excitement, stating, “I am excited to announce the criteria for our first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee on August 23. The RNC is committed to putting on a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process, and the qualifying criteria set forth will put our party and eventual nominee in the best position to take back the White House come November 2024.”

Candidates must have officially announced their campaign, filed a current Statement of campaign and Statement of Organization with the Federal Election Commission, and identified themselves as Republican nominees.

In terms of polls, applicants must meet certain requirements. They must receive at least 1 percent in three national polls or 1 percent in two national polls and 1 percent in one early state poll from two “carve out” states that the RNC recognizes (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina).

These polls must survey at least 800 registered Republican voters who are likely to vote, using a mix of live calls, IVR, online groups, and/or text messages, among other testing methods.

When it comes to fundraising, candidates must show that at least 40,000 different people have contributed money to their main presidential campaign committee or exploratory committee.