The first Democratic debates will pit Biden vs. Bernie, with Elizabeth Warren leading the other night


And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... the 2020 Democratic lineup!
On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee revealed the 20 contenders who had made the cut for its first round of debates on June 26 and 27. Now, NBC has conducted a drawing to decide which candidates will face off each night.
While NBC says its drawing was completely random, it does neatly split up progressive rivals Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) into two events. But it also pits frontrunner Joe Biden against Sanders, who was Biden's closest threat until Warren beat him out in two recent polls. That leaves former Rep. Beto O'Rourke as Warren's primary competition on Wednesday, despite him polling at just three percent in a California poll published Thursday. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, meanwhile, might just achieve his dream of standing next to Biden.
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.
The DNC determined its debaters by gauging if they've gotten donations from at least 65,000 individuals, and if they've hit at least one percent in three separate polls. Those qualifications will be ramped up for the September debates, with debaters needing at least 130,000 unique donors and two percent support in four polls between June and August.
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.
-
Sail in style onboard the brand-new Explora II
The Week Recommends Hit the high seas on a luxury cruise from Barcelona to Rome
-
Is the EU funding Russia more than Ukraine?
The Explainer EU remains largest importer of Russian fossil fuels despite sanctions aimed at crippling Kremlin's war effort
-
Posh crisps: an 'elite' tier of snacking
The Week Recommends Hand-cooked and dusted in 'decadent' flavours, the humble potato chip is being elevated to new levels
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges