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Republicans Make Final Arguments Before Iowa Caucuses

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has opted out, but Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; former Flo
Image: US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS-DEBATE
Republican Presidential candidates, from left to right, Senator Rand Paul, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich arrive for the Republican Presidential debate sponsored by Fox News at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa on January 28, 2016. JIM WATSON / AFP - Getty Images

Seven Republican presidential candidates squared off in the final debate before the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa with one notable absence -- front-runner Donald Trump.

Taking the stage for the main event was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Ohio Gov. John Kasich; and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

Trump opted out of the debate because of an ongoing feud with host Fox News. He instead held his own Iowa event minutes away at the same time.

Earlier tonight, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum; and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore participated in an undercard debate.

Check out our recap below for all the news and analysis from Thursday's debate: