'I'm going to be on that debate stage': Larry Elder tells Glenn Beck he'll hit the RNC with an FEC complaint if Republicans keep him off debate stage at last minute

Conservative media figure Larry Elder figured he'd be a shoe-in for the Republican National Committee's first presidential debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday, having ostensibly met its various entry requirements.

However, while en route to Wisconsin, he learned that the RNC was icing him out of its debate on Fox News due to a novel technicality.

Rather than go quietly, Elder is now threatening to file a formal Federal Election Commission complaint against the RNC unless it reverses its decision by 2 p.m. CT and acknowledges that he met all the criteria for entry.

Elder told nationally syndicated radio host and Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck Wednesday, "I'm in Milwaukee and I'm going to be on that debate stage, I predict it. I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I would bet my house Larry Elder is going to be up there on the debate stage in some 12 hours from now."

The RNC allegedly revealed at the last moment that Rasmussen Polls — one of the three polls that demonstrated Elder had achieved at least 1% — wouldn't count due to its "ties to former President Donald Trump ... an individual who is not even participating in the upcoming debate."

Elder told Beck and the RNC alike, "Well, it's not affiliated with me," adding that the RNC seems otherwise content to quote Rasmussen "all the time on [its] Twitter feed."

Rasmussen Reports responded to the RNC's apparent allegation, stating, "We have not run a poll suggested by or paid for by President Trump or any of his surrogates - but we'd be pleased to do so," adding it would "run a poll for ANY politician, party or U.S. based political group" under its rules.

Elder's prospective complaint would allege the RNC has run afoul of FEC rules, which require not only that debate guidelines be clearly stated to all candidates in advance and equally applied, but that promotional services cannot be provided to one candidate over another.

According to Craig Engle, legal counsel for Elder's 2024 campaign, this complaint might result in a significant fine for the RNC and possibly for Fox News as well.

Elder noted in a statement on X, "The FEC could deem the RNC’s and FOX News' free national TV airtime and free promotional activities to SELECT candidates as 'ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO CANDIDATES' — with the premise being that, free national TV airtime comes with an extraordinary real-dollar value to candidates who are arbitrarily allowed onto the stage under a certain set of rules — while other candidates are arbitrarily kept off the stage through a different set of rules."

Elder told Beck that the possible fines on the RNC and Fox News would likely be multiplied by the number of candidates on stage, thereby fitting both with fines costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

As it now stands, the debaters Wednesday include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Rather than participate in the debate, former President Donald Trump will be featured in an interview with Tucker Carlson, which is expected to run around the time of the RNC's debate.

Elder suggested his exclusion "is designed ... to make sure that Ron DeSantis is the nominee. Anyone other than Trump. This is BS."

The California Republican further suggested that he makes elements of the Republican establishment uncomfortable because he doesn't tolerate knee-jerk accusations of racism; understands that fatherlessness, not COVID, is the the greatest epidemic afflicting America; and desires both a negotiated armistice in Ukraine and an unburdening of America from its various unfair international obligations.

After noting his displeasure at seeing Elder boxed out of the debate, Beck said, "When the GOP selected their leadership here recently, they signaled who they were. ... They are becoming Democrats in every way."

While Elder's last run for higher office was unsuccessful, he still managed to make a substantial splash.

In the Sept. 14, 2021, special general election for governor of California, Elder was Gov. Gavin Newsom's top rival, having led other challengers with 48.4% (3.5 million votes). However, on the question of whether ultimately to replace Newsom, the majority of voters chose to stay the course.

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