In January, three Republican presidential debates are expected to take place, but the participation of major candidates remains uncertain. The first debate, hosted by CNN, will be held in Iowa, the state that holds the first Republican caucus. CNN and ABC/WMUR are set to host separate debates in New Hampshire, which is home to the first presidential primary. These debates provide an opportunity for candidates who are trailing former president Donald Trump by large margins to make their case on a national stage before voters head to the polls. However, candidates must meet the requirements set by each organization hosting the debates in order to participate.

As of Friday evening, Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign was the only one to confirm to CBS News that the Ohio entrepreneur intends to be present at all three upcoming debates. Ramaswamy's press secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, expressed their support for more debate and free speech, stating, "We're in." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also taken to social media to express his anticipation for the Iowa and New Hampshire debates. He even mentioned his hope to see Trump at the Iowa debate, emphasizing the importance of candidates taking this process seriously.

However, Trump has not attended any of the previous four Republican debates, and his campaign did not respond to a request for comment regarding his participation in the upcoming January debates. Nikki Haley's campaign declined to comment, and Chris Christie's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asa Hutchinson, on the other hand, stated that he would participate, but he has not met the participation requirements since the first debate in August.

The requirements for the upcoming Republican debates vary. The Iowa debate, scheduled for January 10, requires participants to agree to the rules and format and obtain at least 10% support in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNN's standards for reporting. One of the three qualifying polls must be an approved poll of Iowa likely Republican caucusgoers.

The New Hampshire CNN debate is set for January 21 at St. Anselm College. The top three candidates in the Iowa caucuses will be invited to this debate, along with candidates who meet CNN's polling qualifications, which include a 10% polling threshold in New Hampshire. ABC News also announced plans to partner with WMUR-TV to host a debate at St. Anselm on January 18. This debate is sponsored by the New Hampshire Republican Party, and the state party chair, Chris Ager, made it clear that the only debate endorsed by the party would be the ABC/WMUR debate.

It is worth noting that the Republican National Committee (RNC), which sanctioned the first four debates with polling and donation requirements, will not be involved in any of the upcoming debates. According to sources close to the RNC, there is a belief within the party that Trump will be the nominee, making further debates of limited value. The RNC Committee stated that it is now time for Republican primary voters to decide the next President, and candidates are free to use any forum or format to communicate to voters as they see fit.

In summary, Republican presidential candidates are expected to participate in three debates in January, but the attendance of major candidates, including former President Donald Trump, remains uncertain. The participation requirements set by each organization hosting the debates will determine which candidates make the stage. The debates in Iowa and New Hampshire present an opportunity for trailing candidates to make their case before the voters, but the RNC's decision not to be involved reflects the belief that Trump will be the party's nominee.