Republican debate highlights and analysis: Candidates squabble in Simi Valley

2024 hopefuls argued over education, spending and border security.

The second Republican debate of the 2024 presidential primary, taking place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, has just come to an end.

The affair was more raucous than the first debate, which took place over a month ago. Candidates interrupted one another much more regularly and several — most notably former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — have directly criticized front-runner Donald Trump, who elected not to show up tonight. The two candidates from South Carolina, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, went after one another for their records on spending, and seemingly everyone who had the chance to take a shot at entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy did so.

Read below for highlights, excerpts and key moments.


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Haley and Ramaswamy trade insults and poll positions

Haley going after Ramaswamy was a recurring theme in the first debate. They were the standout candidates in our polling last time and there was a lot of speculation about Ramaswamy moving up in the polls — perhaps even surpassing DeSantis. But since August, Ramaswamy has actually lost support, to the point where Haley passed him in our polling average today. It makes sense that they're trading blows again; this seems to be a successful strategy for Haley, and Ramaswamy can't help but take the bait.
-Analysis by G. Elliott Morris of 538


The candidates are discussing support for Ukraine. About half (49 percent) of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say that vital U.S. interests are not really at stake in the war in Ukraine, according to an August Echelon Insights survey. Thirty-seven percent disagree, saying that if Russia wins, vital U.S. interests and values are threatened. Fourteen percent are unsure.
—Analysis by 538


Ramaswamy’s dance card fills up

For those keeping score at hope, Christie, Pence, Scott and now Haley have all gotten into shouting matches with Ramaswamy at these debates.

—Analysis by Nathaniel Rakich of 538


DeSantis finally gets a little momentum. His "they don't care" repetition is the most impassioned he's been all night (or in either debate). But whatever applause he might have got was cut short the conversation moving on a discussion about NATO and another Scott/Ramaswamy spat.
-Jacob Rubashkin, 538 contributor


What 538 is watching for tonight: DeSantis

Tonight I’ll be keeping track of DeSantis, who, despite several campaign shakeups and a steady slide in both national polls and early state surveys remains the second-place contender in the GOP primary, and who will appear at center stage this evening. DeSantis didn’t have a breakout moment last debate, though he may have been hobbled by the embarrassment of his Super PAC publicly releasing his entire debate strategy just beforehand. This time around, he may need to make a larger splash to re-convince voters he’s the best (or only) alternative to Trump. The other candidates are now nipping at his feet — he’s not even polling second in New Hampshire and South Carolina anymore — and if he becomes just another member of the pack he could lose whatever luster he has left. He’s already (started taking shots at Haley)[], who had one of the better-reviewed first debate performances and who has seen some movement in the polls. With seven candidates on stage, he’ll have limited time to make his move. Will he finally go after Trump more forcefully, or does he feel enough pressure from below to focus on Haley and the others?

—Analysis by Jacob Rubashkin, 538 contributor