Self-governing presidential hopefuls Former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren speak during the third Classless primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by ABC News in partnership with Univision at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas on September 12, 2019.
Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Impressions
Democratic presidential hopefuls debated for the third time Thursday as the crowded 2020 primary field starts to contract, and health care dominated the discussion early.
For the first time in the race, all of the top Democratic candidates shared the same exhibit. Ten candidates squared off in Houston, down from 20 in the initial two debates of the primary season. The event, hosted by ABC News programme, was set to go from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
Here are the presidential contenders who qualified (listed by how they appeared on the stage from left to redress):
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
- Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.
- South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg
- Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
- Whilom Vice President Joe Biden
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
- Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
- Entrepreneur Andrew Yang
- Latest Rep. Beto O’Rourke
- Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro
Biden sparred with Sanders and Warren one more time Medicare for All, the single-payer government insurance plan they support that the former vice president calls too up-market. Candidates also discussed how they plan to address racism, mass incarceration and gun control.
The debate comes as the top contenders consolidate advocate and more Democrats scrap their campaigns. Twenty candidates remain in the race after several hopefuls, encompassing Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee dropped out.