Who’s in, who’s out, who’s boycotting: The 8 candidates expected on-stage for the first GOP debate

By MEG KINNARD
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — It’s official: Eight candidates will be on stage at Wednesday’s Republican presidential primary debate. The Republican National Committee announced who met its donor and polling thresholds late Monday. The eight candidates include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former Vice President Mike Pence. Former President Donald Trump says he’ll skip the debate and indicated he will hold a competing event instead. At least three candidates who thought they had qualified were excluded. One of them, conservative radio host Larry Elder, is threatening to sue the RNC.