SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The first GOP presidential debate happens Wednesday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and eight candidates have been selected. However, former Texas Congressman Will Hurd didn’t make the cut.
To qualify for the debate, which will be hosted by Fox News, candidates needed to reach 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and two polls in early-voting states. They also needed to collect donations from 40,000 unique supporters, including at least 200 unique donors in 20 or more states or territories.
Hurd didn’t meet the necessary poll numbers to be invited on the debate stage, and criticized the parameters for qualification to be arbitrary and unclear. Also, he’s vowed not to sign the Republican National Committee pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee.
Whereas most Republicans have shown unwavering loyalty to former President Donald Trump, who won’t be at the RNC debate by choice, Hurd has been vocal about his concerns.
When asked by CNN about the allegations against Trump and if he betrayed the U.S., Hurd responded that he 100% did.
Hurd is let down by not being able to debate on stage, but he will not back down from his anti-Trump rhetoric. He finds it disheartening that no other Republican GOP hopeful will speak out against Trump’s wrongdoings.
With the primary full of well-known conservatives, Hurd has called himself the “dark horse candidate.” Trump surpasses him with Republican votes, although he’s racked up four cases of criminal indictments.
Hurd said the RNC’s debate requirements are unacceptable for a presidential election, and he believes Americans deserve much better.