North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, was rushed to the hospital Tuesday night, just one day before the first Republican National Committee (RNC) debate.
According to CNN, Burgum was injured while playing basketball in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the debate is set to take place Wednesday at 9 p.m.
It is unclear whether Burgum will be able to participate in the debate.
The RNC announced earlier this week that the debate will feature Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Burgum.
Ramaswamy, a rising star among GOP presidential candidates, tweeted his support for Burgum.
“Wishing Doug Burgum well. Looking forward to seeing him on stage tonight,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In order to participate in Wednesday’s debate, Republican presidential candidates were required to meet the RNC’s guidelines, which includes securing at least 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national and two state polls from Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada.
Former President Donald Trump, who is widely considered the top competitor in the 2024 Republican primary race, recently announced he will not participate in any RNC debates.
“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
In an apparent effort to divert attention away from the debate, Trump’s interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson will also air at 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
“‘Sparks will fly!'” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
This was a breaking news story. The details were periodically updated as more information became available.
