Asa Hutchinson qualifies for GOP Presidential debate stage

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday (Aug. 20) he has qualified for the first GOP Presidential debate.

His campaign disclosed that he had submitted nearly 42,000 unique donors to the Republican National Committee. A requirement for participation in the first GOP debate, to be held in Milwaukee on Wednesday (Aug. 23), was 40,000 donors.

“I am thankful to the tens of thousands of Americans who have contributed to my campaign and helped ensure my message of consistent, commonsense, conservative leadership is represented on the debate stage this Wednesday evening,” said Hutchinson. “I intend to continue speaking the truth when it comes to the responsibility that Donald Trump bears for the attacks on our democracy and justice system. I look forward to a substantive debate in Milwaukee.”

Hutchinson has registered at or above 1% in two credible national polls and early state polls, another threshold for qualification.

Hutchinson had 5,040 total donations from 4,148 unique donors at the end of the last quarter. Since July 1, he has added a total of 43,197 donations from an additional 37,116 unique donors. Additionally, he received donations from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. Territories, he said.

“Our campaign has always been about the American people and the belief that we can collectively bring out the best of America. I am thankful so many agree with me: it is time for us to elect a president with a forward-looking vision for our nation, whose gaze is set on the horizon . . . not the rearview mirror,” Hutchinson said.

Other qualifiers for the Milwaukee debate include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner according to polls, said he will skip the debate.