South San Antonio News

Native of San Antonio and former CIA agent Will Hurd, aiming for the presidency, has voiced his discontentment after failing to meet the qualification standards for the Republican presidential debate, with his refusal to pledge support for former President Donald Trump being a prominent reason cited, The Texas Tribune reported. Hurd, recognized for his criticism of Trump's sway over the party, expressed frustration at being excluded from the debate platform.

Hurd fell short of qualifying for the initial GOP presidential debate due to his low poll numbers and his refusal to pledge allegiance to Trump.

“I have said from day one of my candidacy that I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump,” Hurd said.

Hurd's vocal criticism of Trump, who also announced his absence from the debate, sets him apart from his competitors who will participate, as the Texan continues to struggle to gain traction for his campaign.

Running as a moderate in the Republican primary, Hurd, a former representative from a border district, acknowledged his status as what he believes himself to be a "dark horse candidate" among prominent conservatives. The requirements for the Milwaukee debate included having 1% support in qualifying polls since July 1, 40,000 unique donors and a commitment to support the Republican nominee, which Hurd found fault with, labeling these requirements as arbitrary, unclear and inconsistent.  

The upcoming Republican presidential debate will feature participants like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, all of whom met the Republican National Committee's participation requirements. Hurd, the sole Texan with elected office experience running for the presidency, narrowly missed the debate threshold, despite reaching the donor requirement and challenging the loyalty pledge due to Trump's own refusal to sign it. While Hurd remains behind Trump in the polls, he maintained confidence and urged support from voters, drawing upon his competitive history, such as his tight 2014 race for the 23rd Congressional District.

Hurd, entering the presidential race in June as a moderate contrast to the leading Republican contenders, emphasized his decade-long CIA operative background and bipartisan record in Congress, exemplified by a road trip with Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke. One qualifying poll in New Hampshire indicated 8% of Democrats or Independents and 7% of Republicans held a favorable opinion of Hurd. Confident that his support will grow in the general election, Hurd criticized Republicans for highlighting the "lunatic fringes," arguing it doesn't represent most voters.