Coverage dated August 18, 2023 to August 24, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy and DeSantis take center stage, plus other key moments from first GOP presidential debate

Headline from NBC Los Angeles, from the development of Aug 24, 2023

Newest development Aug 25, 2023 · 3 reportsDeSantis won the debate in the only way that matters

Eight Republican presidential candidates met on the GOP debate stage for the first time Wednesday night. Here are some key moments from the debate.

NBC Los Angeles's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

4 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. DeSantis campaign lays out debate strategy to donors and supporters

    Headline from Local News 8 ·

  2. DeSantis to make case at debate for his 'proven conservative record': top aide

    Headline from Fox News ·

  3. Names this update

    Vivek Ramaswamy and DeSantis take center stage, plus other key moments from first GOP presidential debate

    Headline from NBC Los Angeles ·

  4. Newest

    DeSantis won the debate in the only way that matters

    Headline from Washington Examiner ·

3 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

28 articles, oldest first.

  1. BizPac Review

    DeSantis reacts to Trump blowing off debate: ‘I think everyone should debate if you qualify’ (opens BizPac Review)

    Published

    BizPac Review's feed description

    Ron DeSantis took a subtle dig at former President Donald Trump over his decision to skip the first GOP presidential primary debate.

  2. CNN

    DeSantis campaign lays out debate strategy to donors and supporters (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is prepared to be “the center of attacks” next week at the GOP’s first debate in the 2024 presidential race, according to a campaign memo obtained by CNN that lays out how DeSantis is preparing for the debate stage.

  3. Hot Air

    DeSantis angers Trump supporters as first GOP debate looms large (opens Hot Air)

    Published

    Hot Air's feed description

    Tensions are high

  4. Washington Examiner

    DeSantis campaign blasts Trump over debate decision (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    A spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) slammed former President Donald Trump for choosing not to appear at the primary debate this week.

  5. Axios

    DeSantis' debate mission: Don't let anyone pass him (opens Axios)

    Published

    Axios's feed description

    The Florida governor's top advisers expect the theme of the debate to be "dog-pile on Ron."

  6. Fox News

    DeSantis, Ramaswamy to stand center stage at first GOP presidential debate (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will stand center stage at the first Republican presidential nomination debate, according to the RNC.

  7. Fox News

    DeSantis to make case at debate for his 'proven conservative record': top aide (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will take the debate stage and is expected to push his “proven conservative record" and pitch his “vision to reverse America’s decline."

  8. The Nation

    Tonight’s GOP Debate Could Put the Final Nail in Ron DeSantis’s Political Coffin (opens The Nation)

    Published

    The Nation's feed description

    Trump has trashed DeSantis for months. Yet the Florida governor apparently plans to defend Trump in the debate. Dumb move!

  9. Christian Science Monitor

    First Republican debate: Can Ron DeSantis regain momentum? (opens Christian Science Monitor)

    Published

    Christian Science Monitor's feed description

    Debates can reshuffle presidential races as candidates shine or sink on live TV. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faces the greatest pressure tonight in the GOP’s opening matchup.

  10. Washington Examiner

    The debate Ron DeSantis needs to win (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    MILWAUKEE — THE DEBATE RON DESANTIS NEEDS TO WIN. The Republican presidential field that will take the stage here at the Fiserv Forum Wednesday night is made up of several subgroups. There is the who-are-these-guys group, with Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.…

  11. Washington Examiner

    Republican debate: Cuccinelli says DeSantis 'looked very presidential tonight' (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    MILWAUKEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) avoided attacks during most of Wednesday night's debate, and his backers hope his performance will lead to a solidified position in the polls.

  12. NBC Los Angeles

    Vivek Ramaswamy and DeSantis take center stage, plus other key moments from first GOP presidential debate (opens NBC Los Angeles)

    Published

    NBC Los Angeles's feed description

    Eight Republican presidential candidates met on the GOP debate stage for the first time Wednesday night. Here are some key moments from the debate.

  13. Florida Phoenix

    DeSantis gets mixed reviews from 1st GOP presidential debate • Florida Phoenix (opens Florida Phoenix)

    Published

    Florida Phoenix's feed description

    With Donald Trump choosing to blow off Wednesday’s first Republican presidential primary debate, all eyes were on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who just a few months ago was considered the most formidable opponent to win the nomination and take on Joe Biden next year.

  14. BizPac Review

    Poll chooses clear winner in GOP primary debate (opens BizPac Review)

    Published

    BizPac Review's feed description

    A poll claims that Ramaswamy beat DeSantis and came out on top over Trump in the first GOP primary debate. He won by a narrow margin.

  15. Washington Examiner

    Republican debate: DeSantis plays prevent defense before taking the lead (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Heading into the first Republican presidential debate, it was expected that as the highest-polling candidate on the stage, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) would either have a target on his back or dominate the proceedings.

  16. Washington Examiner

    More than 20 state officials endorse DeSantis following first GOP debate (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    EXCLUSIVE — Over 20 state- and county-level officials endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for president on Thursday following his performance at the Republican National Committee's primary debate on Wednesday night.

  17. Politico

  18. Anchorage Daily News

    Republican presidential candidates tangle in first debate as they vie to be the leading alternative to Trump (opens Anchorage Daily News)

    Published

    Anchorage Daily News's feed description

    In Trump’s absence, the debate is a crucial test for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has struggled to gain traction since entering the race and is fighting to maintain his distant second-place status.

  19. New York Post

    Ron DeSantis was winner of the first 2024 Republican debate — the man best suited to unseat Trump (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    And even if he didn’t go for the kill on Wednesday, DeSantis demonstrated a willingness – and ability – to take Trump on.

  20. Washington Examiner

    DeSantis won the debate in the only way that matters (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    There is a wide range of opinions on who won the first GOP presidential debate, but it turns out that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) won in the only metric that matters.

  21. Washington Examiner

    DeSantis edges Ramaswamy in first Republican debate, poll says (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    A small plurality of Republican voters who tuned into the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday night declared Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) the winner and outperformed the other seven candidates alongside him onstage, according to a poll.

  22. Fox News

    GOP voters say DeSantis delivered best performance in first primary debate: poll (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    A plurality of GOP voters who watched Wednesday's primary debate said that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis won the night, according to a Washington Post poll.

  23. New York Post

    Ramaswamy tops DeSantis as best performer in first Republican debate: poll (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy narrowly topped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the best-performing candidate in Wednesday’s Republican debate, according to a poll commissioned exclusively for The Post.&…

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Vivek Ramaswamy and DeSantis take center stage, plus other key moments from first GOP presidential debate | Since Then