Doug Burgum appears to qualify for second GOP debate stage: NBC analysis

Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.), a 2024 presidential candidate, appears to have qualified for the upcoming second GOP primary debate, an NBC News analysis found. 

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has the final say in who makes the debate stage, so nothing is final until the committee makes an announcement determining qualified participants next week. 

Polling in recent days suggests Burgum will secure a spot on the stage, just days before the RNC’s Monday deadline, NBC reported. The party requires candidates to reach 50,000 unique donors, sign pledges to support the party candidate and meet the party’s polling thresholds. Burgum previously said he hit the required number of voters and has signed the pledges to participate in the first debate. 

To qualify for the debate, candidates must reach 3 percent in two national polls – or 3 percent in one national poll and in two additional polls from early nominating states like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. 

Burgum has earned 3.2 percent in a national poll conducted by Trafalgar Group, released overnight on Saturday. He earned 3.2 percent in an Iowa poll by Trafalgar, released in mid-August. Burgum has reached 4 percent in a New Hampshire poll released Thursday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie already qualified.

Former President Trump has met the polling and donation requirements to participate but has not signed the party pledge. He didn’t attend the first debate and said he would skip the second one. 

The debate takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 27 in Simi Valley, Calif., at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and airs on FOX Business.