The first GOP presidential primary debate will take place in Milwaukee

The Republican National Committee (RNC) decided on Thursday that the first primary debate before the 2024 presidential election would be held in Milwaukee in August, The New York Times first reported.

The debate will take place in the same city where the 2024 Republican National Convention is scheduled to be held. Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said the criteria for the first debate had yet to be decided and no other RNC debates had yet been sanctioned, according to The Washington Post.

“We have a long way to go, but I’m confident we’ll be able to pitch our eventual nominee in a world-class manner,” McDaniel said in an email to RNC committee members, the Post reports.

A spokesperson for RNC did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

Following concerns over party disunity, McDaniel has previously said she plans to have all candidates pledge their support to the eventual candidate of the party to be able to participate in the primary debate. But many Republican candidates, including former President Donald Trump, pushed back on the decision.

The party currently has two major candidates for the 2024 election. Trump, who lost to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, announcement in November that he would run again. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (right) has announced its intention to participate in the race earlier this month. During the Trump administration, Haley previously served as US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Other GOP leaders have hinted at throwing their hats in the ring for the 2024 presidential election, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.). Meanwhile, no Democrats have announced an official 2024 presidential candidacy.

Biden has expressed interest in seeking re-election, but no official announcement has been made. However, Vice President Kamala Harris said last week that she expects Biden to run for re-election and that she will join him as a running mate.