There are officially too many 2020 Democrats for the debate stage
The Democratic National Committee is prepared to smush 20 candidates onto two stages for each of its 12 primary debates. One problem: Its 21st candidate just joined the race.
With Sen. Michael Bennet's (D-Co.) 2020 announcement on Thursday, the possibility now stands that too many Democrats will meet the DNC's requirements by the time the first debate rolls around in June. It also raises the question of whether the DNC's debate qualifications remain too attainable to push out improbable candidates — not that the committee has said it'll change them, The New York Times reports.
Of those already in the race, only 17 have qualified by either getting 65,000 donors, with at least 200 donors each coming from 20 individual states, or by polling at 1 percent in three polls on a predetermined list. Nine candidates — including seemingly long-shot contenders Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang — have hit both thresholds. Only four have yet to qualify, and they have nearly two months to do so. And let's not forget the few Democrats still teasing a run.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That poses a problem for the DNC's cap and qualifications, seeing as a committee spokesperson told the Times they wouldn't be changed now. Instead, the DNC has set up some tiebreakers. Debaters will be determined first if they meet both the donor and polling limits, then by their highest polling average, and then by most unique donors.
That's probably why Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) started pushing Thursday to meet a second debate threshold, tweeting that he has around 63,000 individual donors and asking for "less than 2,000" more. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Julián Castro also specifically cited the individual donor threshold in tweets earlier this week.
Read more about the potential debate debacle at The New York Times.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published