Milwaukee to host first Republican presidential primary debate

[Elderberry]

Spectrum News 1 By Lydia Taylor 2/23/2023

MILWAUKEE — The first Republican presidential primary debate will be held in Milwaukee in August, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming confirmed on Twitter.

https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2023/02/23/milwaukee-to-host-first-republican-presidential-primary-debate

Chairman Schimming
@WisGOPChairman

We’re looking forward to not only hosting the 2024 RNC, where we will show off our exceptional city & the future president of the United States, but excited MKE has been selected to host the first presidential debate!

https://twitter.com/WisGOPChairman/status/1628871475896762377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1628871475896762377%7Ctwgr%5E1df0f156fc30a9b4212f98bd0a16bbcdef21fca0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fspectrumnews1.com%2Fwi%2Fmilwaukee%2Fnews%2F2023%2F02%2F23%2Fmilwaukee-to-host-first-republican-presidential-primary-debate

It’s the only city to be chosen for a debate so far. An exact date, time and location haven’t been announced.

Milwaukee is already set to host the RNC from July 15 to 18, 2024. It beat out three other cities for the spot: Nashville, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City.

In early February, the RNC bid committee announced that Pittsburgh had been removed from consideration. Utah's capital city dropped out in mid-March, leaving Milwaukee and Nashville as the last two contenders. The RNC made it official during their summer meeting held at the JW Marriott Chicago.

Milwaukee also hosted the Democratic National Convention virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, only two candidates have thrown their hats into the 2024 presidential race on the Republican side: former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Hailey.