Eight candidates qualified for a spot on the stage: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
Missing from the event was the primary's early front-runner: former President Donald Trump, who declined to participate and instead released a pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson.
ABC News and FiveThirtyEight live-blogged every major moment and highlight from the debate, aired on Fox News, with FiveThirtyEight providing analysis and a closer look at the polling and data behind the politicians. PolitiFact made real-time fact checks of key statements.
For now, Trump not planning to attend 2nd GOP debate: Senior campaign adviser
Chris LaCivita, a senior campaign adviser to Trump, said on the conservative “Ruthless” podcast streamed live before the debate that Trump does not currently plan to attend the second GOP debate, set for next month in California, but indicated that Trump could change his mind.
"He's not going to be in California ... Well, first of all, with President Trump, you know, he could change his mind at any moment … And you should just assume that he won't until he does,” LaCivita said.
Supporters of former US President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump gather outside the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Aug. 23, 2023, ahead of the first Republican Presidential primary debate.
Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images
Both fellow primary candidates and GOP officials have urged Trump to be on the debate stage, although some candidates have downplayed the significance of his absence.
-ABC News’ Laura Gersony
Aug 23, 2023, 6:45 PM EDT
Biden campaign drives 'Dark Brandon' mobile billboard outside venue
Hours before eight Republicans take the debate stage, Democrats appear to be going on offense around the site of the event.
The Biden campaign rolled around a mobile billboard around Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum which depicts “Dark Brandon” -- President Joe Biden’s satirical alter ego.
The billboard hits Republicans on their abortion positions, particularly their support for restricting the procedure.
-ABC News' Fritz Farrow
Aug 23, 2023, 6:45 PM EDT
Trump surrogates swarm the debate in his absence
Trump campaign surrogates like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have been spending the day on media row touting Trump’s policies to various news outlets. She has plans to host a post-debate analysis show with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on conservative outlet Right Side Broadcasting Network.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle have also been live-streaming for his podcast outside the debate arena since Wednesday afternoon, joined by other Trump surrogates like Greene, Gaetz, and Kari Lake.
A sign depicting Florida Governor and 2024 Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is carried past supporters of former President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump before the first Republican Presidential primary debate, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Aug. 23, 2023.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
On the podcast, Donald Trump Jr., Guilfoyle and various surrogates sought to downplay the debate, calling the stage a “VP debate,” a “kids’ table” at a Thanksgiving dinner, and a “secretary of education debate.”
Other candidates have criticized the former president for declining to face them and make his pitch to voters in Milwaukee.
Lake on the Donald Trump Jr. podcast also said she spoke with the former president earlier on Wednesday afternoon about the pre-taped Tucker Carlson interview scheduled to be released Wednesday, saying it will be a “good interview.” She said the elder Trump sounded “really good” in the afternoon but told her that “things are going to get worse before they get better.”
-ABC News' Soo Rin Kim and Lalee Ibssa
Aug 23, 2023, 6:45 PM EDT
Candidates prepare for their first debate in unique ways
As Republican candidates gear up for the debate, many have specific rituals they’ll be doing in preparation.
A campaign adviser for Haley said she will be listening to music, “lots and lots of music: Joan Jett, Queen, Def Leppard and [the] Go-Gos, to name a few.”
DeSantis has spent today with his wife, Casey, and their three children, though a campaign spokesman offered few details about how the family has spent their time.
The Fiserv Forum is prepared for the Republican presidential debate, Aug. 22, 2023 in Milwaukee.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Hutchinson posted a photo of himself preparing with notepad and laptop in hand.
“Some last minute studying and prep for tomorrow! It’s important to show up and be ready to answer the tough questions, you deserve nothing less than a leader ready to lead on day one,” Hutchinson captioned the photo online.
Pence will plan to spend time in prayer before the debate, while Scott took a tour of the debate stage, which he posted a video of, along with encouragements from his family, to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Others prepared physically, earlier this week.
Ramaswamy posted videos to X of himself playing tennis and him and his wife doing floor exercises in a gym throughout the lead-up week.
Burgum was playing a stress-relieving pickup game of basketball on the eve of the debate, according to a campaign press secretary, when he sustained an Achilles injury that called into question his ability to participate in the event.
He will be participating, albeit on crutches, per a photo posted to his X account.
-ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Libby Cathey, Abby Cruz, Will McDuffie and Olivia Osteen
