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Last Updated: Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 04:28 PM
Category: Data-graphics

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Tracking candidate attacks at the first GOP debate

We tracked debate attacks throughout the night.
Photo illustration of GOP candidates, like Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Doug Burgum, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Tim Scott, Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy, surrounded by stars and re bubbles and text reading "attacks delivered" and "attacks received."
NBC News tracked candidate attacks during the Republican debate.Joanna Neborsky for NBC News

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy came out swinging in Milwaukee.

Ramaswamy was both the most attacked candidate and the candidate who delivered the most attacks at the first Republican presidential primary debate. He got into it with multiple candidates, sparring with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie over Donald Trump, getting into a heated exchange with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and arguing with former Vice President Mike Pence over experience.

By comparison, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who took center stage as the highest-polling candidate at the debate, was attacked just twice. And even though a pro-DeSantis super PAC urged him "take a sledge-hammer" to Ramaswamy, DeSantis didn't go after him once.

The graphic below shows all of the attacks from the debate.