Republican presidential candidates in third debate in Miami, Florida
Republican presidential candidates in third debate in Miami, FloridaREUTERS/Mike Segar

This week’s GOP presidential primary debate will have the smallest stage yet, with just four candidates facing off, the Republican National Committee announced Monday, according to NBC News.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have qualified for Wednesday’s debate in Alabama, which will be hosted by NewsNation, “The Megyn Kelly Show” on SiriusXM and The Washington Free Beacon.

Christie appeared to qualify only a short time before Monday night’s deadline, reaching at least 6% in the necessary national and early-state polls to meet the RNC’s requirements. Christie’s campaign announced last month that he had reached the 80,000 unique donors also required to qualify.

The previous debate, which took place in Florida at the start of November, included five candidates. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who participated in that debate, has since dropped out of the race.

Former President Donald Trump is skipping Wednesday’s debate, as he has done with the previous ones. He will appear instead in a Fox News town hall Tuesday and will be holding a private fundraiser Wednesday.

Trump has continued to dominate the GOP primary campaign even as he has avoided facing off against his rivals.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement announcing Wednesday’s participants, "The fourth debate is another fantastic opportunity for our Republican candidates to share our winning agenda with the American people."

"President Reagan was the first sitting president to visit the University of Alabama nearly 40 years ago, just before cruising to a landslide victory in 1984, and I’m thrilled to return our conservative message to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night," she added, according to NBC News.