What to Know About the 2019 Democratic Debate: Start Time, Schedule, Format
If you’ve ever been to a crowded dance audition or a nightclub where everyone is fighting to be noticed, you’ve got the picture for the second 2019 Democratic debate on Thursday, June 27. Four of the top-five polling candidates will take the stage, with front-runner Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders sharing the center podiums.
The last 10 of the top 2020 Democratic candidates debating will all be trying to stand out and win a chance to challenge President Donald Trump next year. Expect power colors and snappy quotes in the two-hour event that will force candidates to make their points succinctly. Each candidate has 60 seconds to respond to a question.
“They’re going to have to bust a move,” Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said of the each of the candidates competing against frontrunner Joe Biden, the former vice president. “Obviously, Biden wants to come out where he started and unscathed, and anybody with 3% or below, it’s a fight for survival for raising money.”
Here’s what you should know before you watch the 2019 Democratic debates:
What time does the 2019 Democratic debate start?
The second night of the epic 2019 Democratic showdown is slated for 9-11 p.m. E.T.
Where will the debate take place?
The debate will be held at Miami’s Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, a 90-year-old Art Deco space that holds 2,200.
Which candidates debated on Wednesday night?
The night one full chorus line of candidates who debated Wednesday was, left to right: Bill de Blasio, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, a Democrat from Maryland.
Which candidates will debate on Thursday night?
The lineup of candidates debating on Thursday night include: Joe Biden, Michael Bennet, Pete Buttigieg, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, John Hickenlooper, Bernie Sanders, Eric Swalwell, Marianne Williamson, and Andrew Yang.
Who are the debate moderators?
NBC News will host the debate, and Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie of NBC News, Jose Diaz-Balart of Telemundo and NBC News, Chuck Todd of NBC News and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC will share moderating duties.
How were the candidates for each night picked?
NBC picked the candidates for each night through a drawing a week and a half ago. Early on, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said that if the number of candidates qualifying to debate by virtue of fundraising became too large, the debate would be spread over two nights.
What is the debate format?
Each night of the debate has been set up so that higher polling candidates are at the center of the stage moving out to the lowest polling candidates at the ends. Ten candidates will go toe-to-toe each night.
On night two, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders share the center, with Marianne Williamson and Eric Swalwell holding up the sides.
Who will be in the audience?
The 2019 Democratic Debate audience will be made up of guests of the 2020 candidates, people who contacted the Democratic National Committee through its website, pundits, and reporters. If you’re not one of those who will be there in person, you can watch the debates live on NBC News, MSNBC, or Telemundo, or view a free online live stream across all of NBC News’ and Telemundo’s digital platforms.
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