Democratic Party raises bar for November debate in attempt to winnow 2020 field


Democratic Party raises bar for November debate in attempt to winnow 2020 field

Democratic presidential candidates face a tougher path to take part in the party’s November debate.

The Democratic National Committee announced Monday that White House hopefuls now have two pathways for making the debate stage via polling published after Sept. 13. First, they can receive 3% or more support in four polls surveying voters nationwide or those in the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Nevada. Alternatively, they can qualify if they notch 5% of the vote in two single-state polls looking at respondents in the same early-nominating states.

In addition, contenders need to attract at least 165,000 unique donors, with 600 contributors per state in at least 20 states. The deadline to meet the criteria will be seven days before the November debate, which will be contained to one night unless more than 10 candidates make the cut. The debate’s date, venue, and host are yet to announced.

The new rules come after the party increased the standards from at least 1% in three polls and earning 65,000 donors, with 200 contributors from 20 states for the June series, to at least 2% in four polls and 130,000 unique donors, with 400 contributors from 20 states for the September and October rounds.

The next debate will take place at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, on Oct. 15 and Oct. 16.




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