WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2015 – The Fox News Channel will host the first Republican Debate Thursday.   By tonight at 5 p.m. national polls will help decide which 10 candidates take the stage.

The 10 candidates, as determined by those national polls, will be invited to the stage. At this writing, top runners include Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has surged off his late-July announcement, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are competing for one of the two remaining spots on the stage.

Contenders not cracking the top 10 will be able to join in a televised debate starting at 5 p.m., giving them a chance to debate the big issues before a national audience.

Megyn Kelly will moderate the debates and says she has been working diligently to create difficult, insightful questions that will challenge the top 10 Republican hopefuls on the stage. With her legal background, Kelly will likely deliver some provocative interrogation.

Whatever happens, it will be an evening of politics at its best.

Join Communities Digital News for our live debate chat of the first 2016 Presidential Republican Debate on Fox News and share the laughs and the groans, and get to know the candidates with our political experts.

What you need to know

• The first GOP primary debate will take place Thursday at 9 p.m. EST on Fox News
• It will feature the top 10 leading candidates for the GOP nomination.
• The debate is scheduled to go for two hours with a total of three Fox News hosts asking questions of the candidates.

2016 Fox News Presidential Republican Debate – Live Chat staring at 8:30 p.m. EST Thursday here on Communities Digital News.