Democrats name 20 U.S. presidential candidates for first debate
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A sitting U.S. governor will be left off the stage when the Democratic Party holds its pivotal first debate in Miami later this month.

The Democratic National Committee announced on Thursday the list of 20 presidential candidates who qualified to participate in the debate.

The decision deals a blow to the four candidates who will be omitted: Montana Governor Steve Bullock, U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, former U.S. senator Mike Gravel, and Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar, Florida.

The debates, held over two nights on June 26 and June 27, will offer a sprawling Democratic field their first close-up with Americans and allow candidates who have trailed in the polls the opportunity for a poll-boosting viral moment.

Candidates on the stage

Joe Biden (former vice president)
Bernie Sanders (Vermont senator)
Pete Buttigieg (South Bend, Indiana, mayor)
Kamala Harris (California senator)
Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts senator)
Beto O'Rourke (former Texas congressman)
Andrew Yang (Businessman)
Cory Booker (New Jersey senator)
Julian Castro (former San Antonio, Texas mayor)
Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii congresswoman)
Jay Inslee (Washington governor)
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota senator)
Marianne Williamson (Author)
Bill de Blasio (New York mayor)
Michael Bennet (Colorado senator)
John Delaney (former Maryland congressman)
Kirsten Gillibrand (New York senator)
John Hickenlooper (former Colorado governor)
Tim Ryan (Ohio congressman)
Eric Swalwell (California congressman)

The 20 candidates will be randomly divided between the two nights.

Candidates qualified for the debates by receiving at least one percent in three polls, or by receiving donations from 65,000 supporters, including at least 200 donors apiece in 20 states.

In most years, the list of candidates to participate in a presidential debate would not garner much attention, but the historic field of 24 candidates forced the Democratic Party to establish a set of rules to limit participation and make the debates less unwieldy – and forced a mad dash from bottom-tier candidates to meet the requirements.

Bullock has been the most vocal critic of the system. He was the final candidate to enter the race after formally launching his presidential campaign in May.

He waited until after Montana’s legislature completed its session. But that gave him less time to build support in the polls or raise money.

The debate will be broadcast in prime time on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo, and will be streamed online for free on a variety of digital and social platforms.

Source(s): Reuters