Democrats are going to pack all 12 candidates into 1 night for the October debate


This many people haven't been on one stage since Arcade Fire's Saturday Night Live performance.
So far, 12 candidates have made the October Democratic debates, and it looks like that'll remain the total by the time the Oct. 1 qualifying deadline hits. But despite a generally accepted 10-candidates-per-stage limit, CNN and The New York Times will shove all those qualifiers on one stage, the Democratic National Committee said Friday.
The 2020 Democratic field has been packed since day one, and in an attempt to control it a bit, the DNC limited its July and August debates to 20 candidates split into two nights. Things substantially narrowed in September when the DNC increased its donor and polling requirements to get on the stage, leaving 10 candidates behind. But with those standards unchanged for October, another two candidates — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) and billionaire Tom Steyer — have snuck on the stage.
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 12-candidate spread is still "pending a final decision after the candidate deadline," the DNC told campaigns on Friday. But the committee and the media organizations hosting the event are both hoping to keep it to one night to "expand viewership," a DNC official tells CNN. In other words, two nights of debates are exhausting for everyone involved.
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.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda