The Democratic National Committee released the requirements for candidates to make it onstage at the January presidential primary debate, ratcheting up the standard once more.
For the December debate, candidates had to get 4% in at least four DNC-approved national or early-state polls or 6% in two early-state polls, and to get donations from at least 200,000 unique donors, with a minimum of 800 each from at least 20 different states. In January, the requirements will be 5% in at least four national or early-state polls, or 7% in two early-state polls, plus at least 225,000 unique donors, with 1,000 per state from at least 20 states. The window for qualifying polls began Nov. 14 and ends Jan. 10.
At this point, the qualified candidates are former Vice President Joe Biden; Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren; and Mayor Pete Buttigieg. With Andrew Yang, the lone person of color in the December debate, having reached 5% just once since Nov. 14, it could well be an all-white debate.
The next debate will be Jan. 14, with the Iowa caucuses following on Feb. 3.