The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and CNN said on Friday that they will host the second Republican presidential primary debate at the Reagan Library on Sept. 15.
The debate will be held on Sept. 15. A total of nine debates will be held — to be hosted by Fox News, ABC, CBS, and several other news organizations — between August and next March, the Republican National Committee said.
The Reagan Library, in Simi Valley, California, opened in 1991.
"Over 35 years ago, Ronnie announced his candidacy for higher office because he believed that the citizens of this country wanted a president who could inspire," former first lady Nancy Reagan said in a statement. "I believe with all my heart that the country, and the world, prospered under his leadership.
"It is time to find a new leader, and I’m so pleased that the Reagan Foundation, just as it has in the last two presidential elections, will be hosting a candidates’ debate to do just that," she said.
The Reagan Foundation partnered with CNN for the first presidential debate it hosted at the library on Jan. 30, 2008. It was the final GOP presidential debate before the "Super-Tuesday" primary in California and several other critical states.
Jeff Zucker, CNN's president, praised Ronald Reagan's legacy in the statement.
"President Reagan is frequently cited as a source of inspiration for many Republican candidates, so we can think of no better venue from which to bring this historic event to viewers and voters," he said.
In announcing the debate schedule at its winter meeting in San Diego, California, the RNC disclosed the months and states in which the sessions will be held, along with the news organizations that will be hosting them.
The first, scheduled for Ohio in August, will be hosted by Fox News. After the September debate at the Reagan Library, the remaining schedule is: October, CNBC in Colorado; November, Fox Business in Wisconsin; December, CNN in Nevada; and January, Fox News in Iowa.
Three debates are set for February: hosted by ABC in New Hampshire; by CBS in South Carolina; and by NBC News and Telemundo, the Spanish-language cable network, in Florida.
In addition, two are scheduled for March, to be hosted by Fox and CNN, though locations have yet to be determined.
Also at the winter meeting, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus was re-elected to a third term, making him the longest-serving chairman in the party's modern history. He is only the seventh person to serve four years in the post. The party was founded in 1854.
Priebus, 42, who was head of the Wisconsin Republican Party, was first elected to the national post in 2011 and was re-elected two years later.
"I am incredibly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve as RNC chairman for a third term," Priebus said. "We will build on our success of 2014 to have a successful 2016.
"I look forward to ensuring that we have the best possible operation in 2016," he said.
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