Democrats will hold 12 primary debates to whittle down what’s expected to be a massive field for the 2020 presidential nomination, the party announced Thursday.
The early announcement comes as several Democrats are weighing whether or not to campaign for the party’s presidential nomination in the coming year.
The early announcement and heavy schedule are also likely a move to counter the criticism the party faced in 2016 that the debate schedule between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders was too short and was ‘rigged.’
Outgoing Democratic lawmaker Beto O’Rourke (left) and former Vice President Joe Biden (right) are among those considering a presidential run
As are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (left) and Kamala Harris (right)
For its 2020 nomination, the Democratic National Committee announced the party will hold six primary debates in 2019 and six in 2020.
‘My goal in this framework is to give the grassroots a bigger voice than ever before; to showcase our candidates on an array of media platforms; to present opportunity for vigorous discussion about issues, ideas and solutions; and to reach as many potential voters as possible. That is how we will put our nominee in the strongest position possible to defeat Donald Trump, and how we will help elect Democrats up and down the ballot,’ DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement.
Sanders and his supporters had called for more debates and better timing for the scheduled contests – some of which took place on Saturday nights or holiday weekends, which brought lower viewership.
Originally the party sanctioned just six presidential debates in the last cycle but eventually held nine.
Leaked emails from DNC emails posted by WikiLeaks shortly before the 2016 Democratic convention revealed officials had tilted the process toward Clinton. Then-DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as a result of the revelation.
For the coming contest, the first two debates will take place in June and July 2019.
For these first debates, which will likely be the most crowded, it’s possible the debate will be held on more than one night to give.
If that is the case, ‘the lineup for each night will be determined at random, with qualifying candidates assigned one night per debate. The random selection of candidates will be done publicly,’ the party said in a release.
In addition to the required filing and constitutional requirements to run for president, the candidates must qualify for the first two debates by meeting criteria that includes ‘both polling and other objective measures that reflect a candidate’s support, such as grassroots fundraising.’
The specific list of requirements will be announced in January 2019.
In 2016, contenders had to reach at least 5 percent in national polls in order to qualify for a debate. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley did not qualify for all the Democratic debates given his low poll numbers.
He slammed the process as ‘rigged.’
‘This sort of rigged process has never been attempted before,’ O’Malley said at the time.
After a break in August, there will be one debate per month for the rest of 2019.
The remaining six debates will be in 2020 with the last to be held sometime in April, indicating the party believes there will be a frontrunner by that time.
Democrats are working on the process to find their nominee to take on President Trump
Bernie Sanders supporters claimed the 2016 process was ‘rigged’ in favor of Hillary Clinton
Originally the party sanctioned just six presidential debates in 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders but eventually held nine
The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020 with the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 11.
Super Tuesday – a date which a number of states hold their nomination contests – is set for March 3.
Only three Democrats have officially announced: outgoing Democratic House member John Delaney, tech executive Andrew Yang, and state lawmaker Richard Ojeda.
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro announced the launch of a presidential exploratory committee early this month – the first step in the process toward making a White House bid.
Other Democrats considering a run include: former Vice President Joe Biden; outgoing Congressman Beto O’Rourke; Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, and Bernie Sanders; businessman Tom Steyer; former Attorney General Eric Holder, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Mayors Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans and Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles.
Sens. Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand are considering White House bids
As are former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar
The party is asking that candidates only appear in the debates sanctioned by the party but noted participation in forums in which one candidate appears on stage is fine.
No specific dates or which networks will air the debates have been announced. The party said that information will come in 2019.
The party noted it ‘will continuously assess the state of the race and make adjustments to this process as appropriate, and always transparently.’
WHO ARE ALL THE DEMOCRATS OFFICIALLY RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 2020 SO FAR?
JOHN DELANEY
Age on Inauguration Day 2021: 57
Entered race: July 28, 2017
Career: Three-time Maryland congressman. Previously set up publicly-traded companies lending capital to healthcare and mid-size businesses
Family: Married father of four; wife April works for children’s issues nonprofit
Views on key issues: Social liberal in favor of legalized pot and gun control but not single-payer healthcare and fiscally conservative
Slogan: Focus on the Future
ANDREW YANG
Age on Inauguration Day 2021: 46
Entered race: November 6, 2018
Career: Started a dotcom flop then become healthcare and education tech executive who set up nonprofit Venture for America
Family: Married father of two; would be first Asian American nominee
Views on key issues: Warns of rise of robots and artificial intelligence, wants $1,000 a month universal basic income and social media regulated
Slogan: Humanity First
RICHARD OJEDA
Age on Inauguration Day 2021: 50
Entered race: November 12, 2018
Career: Tattooed Army paratrooper officer with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan awarded disability by VA; then high school teacher and West Virginia state senator. Lost 2018 run for Congress
Family: Married father of two; wife is paid caregiver for his combat-related disabilities; grandfather was illegal immigrant from Mexico
Views on key issues: Populist union booster who backed teachers’ strike in West Virginia; wants lobbyists banned; voted for Trump in 2016 but regrets it
Slogan: To be announced