Who won the first GOP debate? Our Opinion staff weighs in.

Eight candidates debated Wednesday night in Milwaukee in the first GOP debate of the 2024 election season.

Eight GOP candidates debated in Milwaukee.Morry Gash

The Philadelphia Inquirer Opinion

Published Aug 23, 2023

Welcome to The Inquirer Opinion Desk’s commentary on the first Republican primary debate on Aug. 23. Former President Donald Trump did not participate, but eight GOP candidates took the stage in Milwaukee: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

In this special feature, Inquirer Opinion writers rank the candidates on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 means the candidate performed so poorly that they shouldn’t even be on anyone’s ballot for student body president; 10 is a decisive win. Pennsylvania will be a key swing state in the 2024 presidential election. Here’s what our columnists, editorial writers, and contributors thought about the debate.

Doug Burgum | Average score: 4.64

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
Who is he again? (1/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
A likable enough and almost-funny policy wonk whose earnestness probably wasn’t the big splash he needed to get off the bottom of the GOP pile. But find someone who looks at you the way that the North Dakota governor looks at Chinese car-battery production. (5/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
You know how Washington Gov. Jay Inslee thought he had a path to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination by focusing on climate change? That’s Burgum with China. (2/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
The Admiral Stockdale of the 2024 GOP crop: "Who am I? Why am I here?" Safe travels back to North Dakota. (3/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
His best moment might have been his statement that we need to focus on coming together and leaning into small-town values to move into the future. (7/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Doug Burgum said "small town" so many times I thought he was Jason Aldean. We get it. He was born in a small town and he wants America to have small-town values. But when you're running to be president of a nation with over 331 million people, we need to hear more than where you're from. We need to know where you plan to take us. (5/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
Burgum came across as a reasonable candidate with small-town values. He rightly pointed out that climate change supporters in the Biden administration ignore China and India. The question is: Can he project the strength an American president needs? (7/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
Very forgettable. And he plagiarized Jason Aldean's (factually incorrect) song. (4/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
Republicans should be swooning over this stealth debate winner who understands federalism (even for abortion) and brings a folksy, sensible, Truman-esque Midwestern sturdiness while casting a policy centric vision for America — but can the GOP see past the buzzier candidates? (10/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
What I heard: "Aww shucks ... small town ... something, something ... North Dakota horizon." I honestly kept forgetting he was on stage. He probably should have used that Achilles injury as an excuse to get himself together. (4/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
He never got any traction. The joke about "breaking a leg" (after he ruptured his Achilles heel) was cute, but also felt canned. Ditto for his nod to "small-town values." What does that mean? Beats me. (3/10)

Chris Christie | Average score: 6.55

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
He had a number of strong moments, such as when he said about Trump, "Someone's got to stop normalizing this conduct," and also when he spoke about visiting Ukraine and said, "If we don't stand up against this type of autocratic killing in the world, we will be next." (8/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
He had one job: to be the guy who takes down Donald Trump, but he spent his entire night attacking Vivek Ramaswamy, whom he called (correctly) “an amateur.” His actual policy ideas, like an ill-advised federal takeover of criminal prosecutions, are weak. A major disappointment on the big stage. (3/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
Props to Christie for standing up to Trump and mixing it up with Ramaswamy. But judging from the response from the rowdy crowd in the room, it’s a losing position. (7/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
Big props for speaking the truth about Trump, but the MAGA cult ain't buying it. Extra credit for speaking honestly about the need to support Ukraine. But where's the vision thing? (5/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
Gutsy comments about asking more from the president of the U.S. Don’t normalize conduct unbecoming a president. Nominate someone who can win Democrats. (9/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Chris Christie was brutally honest in his attacks on Donald Trump, and he was right to demand that Americans get honest about the alleged criminality of the former president. But this is the second time I've heard him deliver that sobering message to a Republican audience. It's not a winning message, which is a shame, because I think Christie has the experience and temperament to be an acceptable nominee. (6/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
He seemed reasonable and defended his successes as the New Jersey governor. He showed he's got the inner core of a tough experienced prosecutor. The question is: Will those qualities work as president? (7/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
"Defend, not suspend," was a great line. But he wasn't as good as he promised he'd be. (7/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
It’s hard to say unpopular things, which is why Christie deserves credit for doing so by a) reminding the American people they owe Mike Pence a debt of gratitude for upholding the U.S. Constitution, and b) being the only contender to go directly after President Trump. (6/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
“You want me on that debate stage,” Christie told voters in New Hampshire as he announced his second presidential bid there in June. I mean... other than saying Vivek Ramaswamy sounds like "ChatGPT" he was mostly a big meh. He complained about getting the weird UFO question, but he should thank the moderators. People might actually remember that. (7/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
He's the only person on the stage who told the truth — loudly and directly — about Donald Trump. He also exposed the hollowness of Vivek Ramaswamy. But I could have done without his jab about Ramaswamy being a "skinny guy" with a "strange name," like Obama. What was the point of that? (7/10)

Ron DeSantis | Average score: 5.09

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
Watching his inept and uninspired debate performance, it was crystal clear why DeSantis is trailing Trump so badly in the polls. (1/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
For a guy who’s been in a running feud with Disney, the Florida governor and his weird movements felt like he’s running to be the next animatronic president at Disney World, not a real one. His over-rehearsed answers veered between evasions and lies (accusing Democrats of supporting abortion through birth), killing people at the border “stone cold dead” like a demagogue, and then he hijacked a show of hands on climate to attack the liberal media. Weak. (2/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
Burgum. Hutchinson. DeSantis? The Florida governor may have been in the center of the lineup with some of the best polling numbers, but he may as well have been on the sidelines. He did better toward the end of the debate but failed to establish any sort of real presence. The biggest loser of the night. (5/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
Now I know who George Costanza was referring to when he said, "The jerk store called, and they're running out of you." Instead of answering questions, DeSantis spent the night name-dropping Hunter Biden, Anthony Fauci, George Soros, critical race theory, and the weaponization of government, but the more he yelled, the smaller he got. Angry whining is not a winning formula. Trump can rest easy on the campaign trail for now and focus on his four criminal indictments. (2/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
Showed passion and emotion that was unexpected. Do the Dems want abortion up to birth? We are better than what the Democrats are selling. (8/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
DeSantis seemed to be trying to be the angriest man on the stage. It felt like an act, and it was annoying, but in terms of pure debate performance, he understood what the audience wanted and he attempted to give it to them. He connected a few times, drawing raucous applause when he talked about removing liberal prosecutors from office. However, he often avoided answering questions directly, which was as annoying as the angry guy act. (7/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
DeSantis is the focused tough guy who is not afraid to go up against the far-left agendas. Say what you will about him, but he's one of the best examples of what the nation needs right now. (8/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
Putting his hand halfway up and then bringing it back down on the Ukraine question is a perfect encapsulation of his performance. (5/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
With Pence and Ramaswamy in a surprising (and odd) verbal slap fight — the guy polling at #2 sailed through the debate largely unscathed. This allowed DeSantis some great moments, like his righteous reminder that a president should be selfless, and that he learned that while serving his country as a U.S. Marine. (7/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
It's an 8 with a big caveat: Did all the candidates take some sort of vow to lay off the awkward guy in the room? Because he seemed to get a bunch of passes. So, either they don't consider him a threat... or it's back to that vow among the candidates theory. (8/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
He actually smiled at the start of the debate! But the rest was snarl: He would fire Anthony Fauci (does anyone in the GOP care about that any more?), George Soros is sponsoring radical prosecutors, and so on. He also dodged all of the questions about Trump, insisting that the election was about the future rather than the past. So much for law and order! (3/10)

Nikki Haley | Average score: 7.64

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
She got in some good one-liners, such as when she said, "Trump is the most disliked politician in America," and when she told Ramaswamy, "You have no foreign policy experience — and it shows." (7/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
Putting aside my disagreement with her on most policy issues, the pragmatic Haley struck me as the big winner. She had the best line when she invoked Margaret Thatcher amid the Christie-Ramaswamy childish squabbling — “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman” — and her moves toward the middle on issues like abortion were smart politics for actually winning an election. (7/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
Haley went after the GOP on spending, was pragmatic on abortion, and brought the fire when dealing with Ramaswamy. She stood her ground and was the surprise of the debate for me. (8/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
On a night filled with lots of kooky cacophony, Nikki Haley came across as the most normal, qualified, and competent person on the stage by far. (8/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
Been successful. Ask a woman if you want to get something done. Talked about Trump shortcomings. (9/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Nikki Haley seemed to be the adult in the room. She knew the topics well and gave thoughtful answers that she'd clearly thought about, not canned answers that she had to stop mid-sentence to remember. She also got into it with Vivek Ramaswamy on the Ukraine issue, and it was a knock-down, drag-out fight. During that exchange, Haley delivered the best line of the night when she turned to Ramaswamy and said, "You have no foreign policy experience — and it shows." (8/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
Haley knows when to stand her ground. She's experienced and has traditional values. It's clear that America is ready for a woman president, and Haley deserves that chance. If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman. (10/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
Haley's attempt to look like the sensible moderate is undermined by her stated goal to kick tons of people off social programs. (6/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
A Republican who can compassionately articulate a pro-life view that respects women who disagree (other GOP candidates should take note), Haley had some great moments — including deploying the overused Thatcher quote perfectly — but largely snooze worthy with endless piecharts and percentages rather than laying out her achievements as governor. (6/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
Not a fan of many of her views... but she came out swinging, and spared no one: not her fellow Republicans, not her all-male counterparts. Nikki came to slay, and she did a good job of setting herself apart as a strong woman with experience, who at several points sounded (dare I say it?) almost rational on many divisive issues. (9/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
To her credit, she said that the party couldn't win the general election with Trump as the nominee. She also rejected calls for a national ban on abortions after six weeks, and admitted that Republicans — not Democrats — were most responsible for the ballooning federal debt. (6/10)

Asa Hutchinson | Average score: 4.00

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
Completely forgettable. (1/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
The former DEA head came off as something of a narc — ready to give you a serious lecture on the evils of drugs. He shares Christie’s loathing of Trump — that’s good — but unlike the bombastic ex-New Jersey governor, he makes it boring. (2/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
Hutchinson has government experience and solid conservative credentials. He might as well drop out of the race now. (4/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
After two painful hours of watching the angry food fight the Fox News bell could not restrain, I can't recall a single compelling thing folksy Asa said. (3/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
Serious and factual. Superb experience. Would use lethal force to go after cartels. (7/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Asa Hutchinson is a smart, experienced, policy-driven conservative who knows the issues from a number of perspectives because of his extensive work in government. He is also not what the GOP wants right now. They want a showman, and Hutchinson, who came off at times as almost boring, is definitely not that. (5/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
A likable guy with strong family values, but he's not going to be president. (4/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
He was the first candidate to criticize Trump's misconduct. (6/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
Who? A GOP enamored with flamboyant flamethrowers is unlikely to pay attention to this rock solid, but low-key, Southern conservative. (4/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
He went after Trump. That's about the most I can say about another candidate who didn't exactly set the stage on fire with his presence. (4/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
He seems like a very nice guy. And I appreciated his comment that Trump had undermined the rule of law. But he didn't expand on the point. And he got nowhere in this crowd, where the only way to stand out is to yell and scream about "the administrative state" or the "weaponization of justice." (4/10)

Mike Pence | Average score: 5.09

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
At least a fly didn't land on his head this time. (3/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
A self-assured politician and the most experienced person on stage, the former vice president confidently delivered a policy agenda that would take America back to the 19th century. Got deserved praise for following the Constitution on Jan. 6, 2021, but how constitutional is it to allow Jesus Christ to set abortion policy? (3/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
Pence is Pence is Pence is zzzzzz…. (4/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
Pious Pence tries so hard to be like Ronald Reagan, but comes across as a strained phony. He did have an inspired moment talking tough about Russia. Extra credit for doing his job on Jan. 6, but four years as Trump's loyal lapdog is disqualifying. So is his proud stance as an abortion warrior, which all the candidates doubled down on. (3/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
The only one to truly show concern for the decline and the problem of homelessness, for the border and scourge of drugs. Pence presented real solutions. (7/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Pence was kind of preachy at times, and I say that as a fellow Christian. His willingness to stand on his actions from Jan. 6 is admirable, and I join most of the Republican candidates in saying Pence did the right thing that day. But he annoyed me on the abortion question when he tried to lecture Nikki Haley on the issue. Bottom line: How are you, as a man, going to tell a woman how to feel about this issue? Didn't like that. Didn't like it at all. (7/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
Pence is likable, firm on traditional American family values, and an experienced government leader. But he's not going to be the Republican nominee because he can't beat Biden. (6/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
As I've learned from using the website formerly known as Twitter, there's only so much time you can spend debating a troll before it starts reflecting poorly on you. (5/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
Defensive and angry at times — a departure from his usual steady character — but crystal clear on how deeply his religious faith and constitutional oath guide his life; those qualities served the nation well on Jan. 6, 2021 — but probably did not convince GOPers he’s presidential material. (5/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
He was a lot more aggressive and animated than I expected. Took a few swipes at Trump. But clearly his primary target during the first debate was Vivek Ramaswamy... and that was definitely a draw. But the VP's still giving some major "Under His Eye" vibes, so, no, thank you. (8/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
He hit Ramaswamy with some good zingers. And I was glad that he said he was asked to put Trump over the Constitution, and he refused. But he was still Mike Pence: priggish, moralistic, and awkward. Did he have to tell us he accepted Christ as his savior? What does that that have to do with being our president? He said God isn't done with America. But America is most likely done with Mike Pence. (5/10)

Vivek Ramaswamy | Average score: 4.45

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
Came off as an arrogant slickster, who thinks he can fast-talk his way onto the GOP ticket and America's heart. It's not going to happen. (1/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
Being the youngest candidate on the stage doesn’t give you permission to act like the most spoiled jerk at the kids' table at Thanksgiving. Made the disqualifying comment that “the climate change agenda is a hoax,” but then apparently he believes 9/11 was a hoax, so I guess he’s being consistent. (1/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
Ramaswamy has found his lane and it’s pedal to the metal — get on or get out of the way. Like Trumpism but want to move on from Trump? Vivek’s your guy. The smiler with the knife. (9/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
Wow, is this guy for real or a character on SNL? Which QAnon rabbit hole did he climb out of? Guess the GOP has yet to reach its dark and bleak bottom. (1/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
Touchy and immature. Very intelligent but completely arrogant for a guy with no government experience. (4/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Vivek Ramaswamy was well-spoken, glib, and had a really slick, engaging, and riveting manner about him. He definitely knows how to pull in his audience. However, Nikki Haley was right when she said he "has no foreign policy experience — and it shows." Just because you say something loudly and often does not make it right. His stance on Ukraine might have been what his audience wanted to hear, but it made no sense. What scares me is that a guy as smart as Ramaswamy has to know that. (8/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
He's got some great ideas and he's young and energetic. Not quite ready to be president though. Not yet. (7/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
An obnoxious and ignorant person with no principles. He belongs nowhere near any power or influence. (1/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
Ramaswamy’s charisma and verbal flamethrowing = catnip to GOP voters, especially after he hat-tipped to the MAGA crowd with his under-the-radar reference to taking on the federal bureaucracy (a.k.a.: Deep State) and laid out a righteous vision for education (the “civil rights issue of our time”). The GOP will find his vision and reference to the American revolution intoxicating. (8/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
He stood his ground among a group of older and more experienced politicians. And I'm guessing no one is more impressed with Vivek's performance than Vivek, who clearly has a high opinion of himself and often came off super smarmy. But... the audience dug him. (8/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
Where to start? Climate change is a hoax; he'll pardon Trump; and we should take our dollars from Ukraine and use them to secure the Mexican border. He's trying to channel Trump, of course, and to challenge him at the same time. But why would anyone vote for Vivek when they can get the real thing with Donald? (1/10)

Tim Scott | Average score: 5.00

Jenice Armstrong
Staff Columnist
No. Just no. (2/10)

Will Bunch
National Columnist
His slow-talking child of the South shtick was effective enough, but failed to make that much of a lasting impression. Maybe that’s because his canned answers often didn’t match the question being asked. It was sad to see the co-sponsor of the George Floyd police-reform bill now say the problem with criminal justice is “weaponization” against conservatives. (4/10)

Luis Carrasco
Deputy Opinion Editor
I feel bad giving Tim Scott a meh. But meh. (4/10)

Paul Davies
Opinion Editor-at-Large
Expected more. But it's tough to take a person seriously who still wants to build the wall. Get some new ideas, please. Preferably ones that work. (4/10)

Melissa Hart
Former Republican Congresswoman
Scott's sincerity and care is apparent, but he did not have anything to offer beyond solid conservative principles. (6/10)

Solomon Jones
Contributing Columnist
Maybe it's me, but it felt like the moderators didn't let Tim Scott speak enough. I heard one of them say, "Hold on, senator," at least three times when Scott was trying to make a point. That lack of volume made it worse when he actually did have a chance to say something. He seemed like he was feigning earnestness. It came off phony to me, which made it hard to focus on the substance of what he was saying. (5/10)

Larry Miller
Op-Ed Contributor
Scott is a poster guy for the American Dream who seems to grasp the unaddressed problems that have contributed to the different crises in the nation. He's ready to be vice president. (9/10)

Daniel Pearson
Editorial Writer
Scott couldn't dispel the notion that he's really running for VP. (5/10)

Jennifer Stefano
Contributing Columnist
The GOP adores him as a party leader and a living embodiment of the American Dream — but did he convince them he has the chops to be their guy in 2024? (7/10)

Helen Ubiñas
Staff Columnist
One of the three candidates who didn't really leave a strong impression. He was there, he said some less than memorable things... the end. (4/10)

Jonathan Zimmerman
Contributing Columnist
He's got a great story: raised by a single mom, rose out of poverty, etc. He praises God a bit too much for my taste: He's running for president, not church deacon. His reply to the climate-change question was deeply confused. China and India are polluting, so we should do the same thing? Mother Earth is gasping at the thought. (5/10)

About the Authors

Jenice Armstrong (@JeniceArmstrong) is a columnist at the Inquirer.
Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) is the national columnist at the Inquirer.
Luis Carrasco is deputy opinion editor at the Inquirer.
Paul Davies is opinion editor-at-large and senior editorial writer at the Inquirer.
Melissa Hart was a three-term Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District; she also spent a decade serving in the Pennsylvania state Senate. She is currently an attorney based in Pittsburgh and a board member at Enterprise Bank.
Solomon Jones (@solomonjones1) is a contributing columnist at the Inquirer and the author of “Ten Lives Ten Demands: Life and Death Stories and a Black Activistʼs Blueprint for Racial Justice.” Listen to him weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m. on WURD 900 AM.
Larry Miller is a former police reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune. He is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia.
Daniel Pearson (@DPearsonPHL) is a member of the Inquirer editorial board.
Jennifer Stefano (@JenniferStefano) is a contributing columnist at the Inquirer.
Helen Ubiñas (@NotesFromHeL) is a columnist at the Inquirer.
Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of “Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools.”

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