New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will be relegated to the undercard round of the next Republican primary debate, Fox Business Network announced on Thursday.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham failed to qualify for the undercard debate, which means they will not appear at all when Republicans face off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 10.
The cable channel, which is sponsoring the debate, has said that candidates must have an average of at least 2.5 percent in the last four national polls in order to participate in the primetime debate at 9 p.m. ET, and at least 1 percent in one of those polls to participate in the 7 p.m. ET undercard.
The news could winnow the still crowded GOP field, which boasts a whopping 15 candidates. The majority of the presidential hopefuls are polling in the single digits.
With Pataki and Graham out, Christie and Huckabee will appear alongside former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
On the main stage, Donald Trump will appear at center stage, with Ben Carson and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on either side. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Carly Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul will round out the debate stage.
The fourth Republican debate airs on Fox Business Network on November 10 at 9 p.m. ET.