A lot has changed in the Republican presidential primary. The field is narrowing and may continue to do so further in the next week or two.
Here are three things to know:
1. Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out
Mike Pence announced he is suspending his campaign. Polls show he was losing support; the Real Clear Politics average had him polling at 9% in July and just 3.5% as of Oct. 24.
“Traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say it’s become clear to me, this is not my time,” Pence told the crowd at the Republican Jewish Coalition.
“Now I’m leaving this campaign but let me promise you, I will never leave the fight for conservative values, and I will never stop fighting to elect principled Republican leaders to every office in the land. So help me God.”
2. Nikki Haley surges in Iowa
Donald Trump maintains a 27-point lead in Iowa, however former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley shot up 10 points and is now tied for second with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to an NBC News/Des Moines register poll.
The Democratic Party took notice of Haley’s rise.
As she officially filed for the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, the DNC war room sent out a memo that described her governorship as a “model for the MAGA Agenda.”
The memo criticized previous action she’s taken on abortion, Medicaid and her economic agenda.
3. Sen. Tim Scott qualifies for third debate
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., became the fifth candidate to qualify for the third primary debate on Nov. 8 in Miami. Earning a spot on that stage is important to donors, and a strong performance can help with polls.
Pence had not qualified and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum hasn’t either, so some expect the field will narrow even further over the next week or two.
“I think the field will consolidate, but it’s not my place to tell people when to get out,” N.J. Gov. Chris Christie said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Christie, Scott, Haley, DeSantis and pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy all met the threshold to participate.
Candidates need at least 70,000 unique donors and 4% support in two polls to earn a spot on the stage. Former President Donald Trump is not expected to be there.
