We made it through Round 1 of the first winnowing of the Democratic field for president, 2020 last night. Now we’re on to Round 2. Everyone on the debate stage, both nights, secured donations from at least 65,000 people, with better than 200 donations coming from each of 20 states. In addition, they all had to crack the 1% barrier in a respected national poll.
Of the twenty candidates who qualified, these ten will be on stage Thursday night. The candidates you’ll be watching are, in alphabetical order:
- Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado
- Former Vice President Joe Biden
- Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York
- Sen. Kamala Harris of California
- Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado
- Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont
- Rep. Eric Swalwell of California
- Author Marianne Williamson
- Entrepreneur Andrew Yang
As with Wednesday night, there’s no time. So candidates will have one minute to answer questions from the moderators, and 30 seconds to respond to any follow-up questions. There will be limited opportunities for discussion between candidates, and no opening statements. Once again, the moderators are NBC News's Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, and Chuck Todd, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and Telemundo's José Diaz-Balart. You can find the debate on the broadcast or streaming channels of each.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:04:08 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
And we’re off. First question from Guthrie to Sanders: Universal health care and free college, will taxes go up for middle class? Sanders—yep, we have a big vision for America, time for change, real change. Health care is a human right, the vast majority of people will pay less for health care under Medicare for All. And yeah, eliminate student debt and make college free. “Every proposal is fully paid for.”
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:05:23 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Follow up to make him answer on taxes: Yes, they’ll pay more in taxes but less for what they’re gonna get in terms of health care. Now to Biden and his promise to big donors that they’re not going to get hurt. Biden ignores the question and goes blue-collar Joe.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:07:30 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Good answer to Guthrie from Harris on how are you gonna pay for all this—why wasn’t anyone asking Trump and Republicans how they were paying for those massive tax cuts. Goes on to riff about her plans to help middle class, including repealing that tax bill on day one.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:09:10 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Guthrie to Hickenlooper: so what’s the deal with calling people socialist? Hick—we have to clearly define we are not socialist so the GOP doesn’t call us that. Good luck with that one, Hick. Defends private health insurance, has some mushy stuff about climate change, reproductive health, is seeming a bit rattled trying to get all his points in in case he doesn’t get called on again.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:10:22 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Back to Sanders on socialism—he’s ahead of Trump in polls, so seems like people aren’t too scared of that word. “That’s how we beat Trump, we expose him for the fraud that he is.” Gillibrand jumps into take the middle between Sanders and Hick.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:12:37 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Bennet: jumps out to say that he agrees with Bernie on all his issues of income inequality, but goes mushy on health care. Wants to take Obamacare further with a public option. Goes back to Bernie and says taxes meant it didn’t win in Vermont. And Gillibrand jumps back in to make sure she doesn’t lose any time.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:14:31 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Buttegieg gets in early with the Spanish, greeting Diaz-Balart. He says he and his husband have a lot of student loans, so he gets it but he doesn’t think rich kids should get subsidies. Also says we need a $15 minimum wage for all the people who don’t go to college. And Swalwell takes a page from Gillibrand to jump in—I’ve got student loans, too. Didn’t really land a hit.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:18:47 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Swalwell takes a hit on Biden quoting Biden from decades ago—it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation. Biden says he’s still holding the torch and pivots to education. Biden has the real advantage of having done this before a lot. He might not have all the great ideas but he has the delivery.
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:20:45 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Sanders jumps in and there’s a free for all which Harris shuts down masterfully, ending the cross talk with a “Hey, the American people don’t want to see a food fight.” Good job, then goes on to the economy for working people. “When we’re talking about jobs, let’s be really clear. No one should have to be working more than one job to have a roof over their head and food on the table.”
Friday, Jun 28, 2019 · 1:23:33 AM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Holt brings them to Medicare for All. Harris, Sanders raise hands for getting rid of private health insurance. Gillibrand talks about transition to it with public option. Buttigieg comes in to be the smart guy, the wonk, and says all these people who want Medicare for All to have a real proposal for it. Pete, meet Elizabeth Warren.