First Republican Presidential Debate Draws 13 Million Viewers

Republican presidential candidates, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (L), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (2nd L), former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (3rd L), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (4th L), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (4th R), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (3rd R), U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) (2nd R), and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), are introduced during the first debate of the GOP primary season in Milwaukee, Wis., on Aug. 23, 2023. Scott Olson/Getty Images

The first Republican presidential debate drew 13 million viewers despite a boycott of the event by President Donald Trump.

The debate, hosted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Fox News, featured eight presidential hopefuls including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.