The race to become the next Republican presidential nominee continues as the highest polling candidates debate in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, August 6. From left, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and John Kasich.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has served as New Jersey's governor since 2010 and was U.S. Attorney for the state from 2002-10. He started in politics as a volunteer, first on Republican Tom Kean's gubernatorial campaign in 1977 and later on George H.W. Bush's 1992 re-election campaign.
Christie Rand got into a yelling match with Rand Paul over NSA record collection (Christie is for, Paul is against).
Christie Rand got into a yelling match with Rand Paul over NSA record collection (Christie is for, Paul is against).
The 43-year-old freshman senator of Florida Marco Rubio is the youngest contender in the race for the presidency. Rubio entered the political realm as an intern to U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida in 1991, while he was attending law school.
On immigration, he said that the evidence is clear the majority of the people coming across border are not from Mexico.
On immigration, he said that the evidence is clear the majority of the people coming across border are not from Mexico.
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, rose to national prominence in 2013 after harshly critiquing the Affordable Care Act at the National Prayer Breakfast, when he warned the U.S. is traveling down the same path as ancient Rome.
Carson, the only African-American onstage, said he was once asked by a reporter why he doesn't talk more about race. "I said it's because I'm a neurosurgeon," he said. When you operate on someone's brain, he added, "the skin doesn't make them who they are." He was operating on the part that makes them who they are, not their skin, he said. The response earned him applause.
Carson, the only African-American onstage, said he was once asked by a reporter why he doesn't talk more about race. "I said it's because I'm a neurosurgeon," he said. When you operate on someone's brain, he added, "the skin doesn't make them who they are." He was operating on the part that makes them who they are, not their skin, he said. The response earned him applause.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is one of the most recognizable and polarizing governors in the country. In 2012, Walker became the only U.S. governor in history to win a recall election, following his effort to limit collective bargaining power for public sector employees.
When asked by moderator Megyn Kelly, "Would you really let a mother die rather than have an abortion?" Walker replied, "I'm pro-life, I've always been pro-life, and I've got a position consistent with, I think, many Americans out there."
When asked by moderator Megyn Kelly, "Would you really let a mother die rather than have an abortion?" Walker replied, "I'm pro-life, I've always been pro-life, and I've got a position consistent with, I think, many Americans out there."
This is real estate mogul Donald Trump's first debate as a Republican presidential candidate. Trump has been a major political donor since the early 1990s, contributing to both Democratic and Republican campaigns.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be even talking about illegal immigration, Chris," Trump said to Fox News host Chris Wallace. "This was not a subject that was on anyone's mind until I brought it up at my announcement."
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be even talking about illegal immigration, Chris," Trump said to Fox News host Chris Wallace. "This was not a subject that was on anyone's mind until I brought it up at my announcement."
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is son to former president George H.W. Bush and brother to former president George W. Bush. He has been trailing in second place behind Trump in the polls. Bush has been involved in politics since the early 1980s.
Bush addressed the immigration issue by stressing that he did not support "amnesty." "We need to be much more strategic on how we deal with border enforcement, border security," Bush said. "We need to eliminate the sanctuary cities in this country. It is ridiculous and tragic that people are dying because of the fact that local governments are not following the law."
Bush addressed the immigration issue by stressing that he did not support "amnesty." "We need to be much more strategic on how we deal with border enforcement, border security," Bush said. "We need to eliminate the sanctuary cities in this country. It is ridiculous and tragic that people are dying because of the fact that local governments are not following the law."
Mike Huckabee is a former Arkansas governor and Southern Baptist minister. He hosted a TV show, "Huckabee," which ran on Fox News from 2008-2015.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, after he rallied conservative and tea party support in Texas, and has since been one of the Senate's most vocal critics of Obamacare. He was the first Republican candidate to announce a campaign for the presidency.
"A majority of the candidates on this stage have supported amnesty.," said Cruz. "I have never supported amnesty."
"A majority of the candidates on this stage have supported amnesty.," said Cruz. "I have never supported amnesty."
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has been in office since 2011. Paul also worked on the congressional and presidential campaigns for his father, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Rand Paul gained national attention by riding the 2010 tea party wave to become the junior U.S. senator from Kentucky following a tough battle in the GOP primary.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich was elected to the U.S. House in 1982 and represented Ohio until he unsuccesfully ran for president in 2000. After a nine-year stint in the private sector, Kasich ran a successful campaign for governor of Ohio in 2010, when he defeated Democratic incumbent Gov. Ted Strickland. He was re-elected by a wide margin in 2014.
"Trump's hitting a nerve in this country," Kasich said. "For people that want to just tune him out, they're making a mistake."
"Trump's hitting a nerve in this country," Kasich said. "For people that want to just tune him out, they're making a mistake."
