Election 2024

The leading Republican presidential candidates had a spirited back-and-forth discussion during their first debate of the 2024 election season on Wednesday despite the leading candidate – former President Donald Trump – not being on stage.

Trump’s absence gave the candidates battling for second – including Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Tim Scott – more time to talk. All total, eight candidates qualified and were on stage in Milwaukee, Wis.

Here are five key takeaways from the first debate:

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Win McNamee/Staff

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has challenged his Republican rivals for the presidential nomination to endorse a minimum 15-week federal abortion ban.

The 2024 election needs to be about America's future, not a battle royal over its recent past. Unless American voters reject the status quo and choose new candidates, we'll be dealing with the latter and not the former. Christian voters need to spend serious time examining primary candidates outside the two that everyone knows. Find someone who reflects your values and choose accordingly. Then, hopefully, we will all be in a better place in 2028 than we find ourselves in 2023.

A political veteran who heads a conservative advocacy group says he believes former vice president Mike Pence has a chance to upset the GOP leaders in the race and win the 2024 Republican nomination.

According to a new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, former President Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden by six points in a hypothetical rematch for the seat of the presidency.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has filed paperwork to officially enter the 2024 presidential race.

Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Monday and is expected to announce his 2024 presidential bid on Wednesday.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis officially launched his 2024 presidential bid on Wednesday, promising to lead "our great American comeback."

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott has announced his 2024 presidential candidacy.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promoted his record to a group of Christian broadcasters on Monday. He also asserted that he has only "begun to fight" – an apparent reference to his yet-undeclared candidacy for president that could be announced as soon as this week.