Castro secures spot on 2020 primary debate stage

Presidential hopeful Julián Castro announced Friday that he has reached the donor threshold set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to secure a spot on the primary debate stage.

The former San Antonio mayor who later served as Housing and Urban Development secretary during the Obama administration said he had received donations from at least 65,000 individual donors.

{mosads}“When I started this campaign on January 12, I knew our team would have to work harder with fewer resources,” Castro said in a statement. “Reaching this threshold of genuine grassroots support is encouraging and shows without a doubt that this campaign continues to become stronger and stronger.”

The campaign said that while it received donations from residents in all 50 states, there were at least 200 unique donors in 44 states and territories who contributed to Castro’s bid.

To qualify for the 12 scheduled Democratic primary debates that begin in June, candidates must receive at least 1 percent support in at least three separate polls recognized by the DNC or receive campaign contributions from at least 65,000 unique donors. 

The DNC has said that it will prioritize candidates who meet both thresholds if more than 20 contenders qualify for the debates. The primary field has already burgeoned to 22 candidates.

A tally compiled by The New York Times found that Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), former Vice President Joe Biden (D), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) and entrepreneur Andrew Yang have all qualified under both requirements.

Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) have all met the polling threshold.

The first primary debate will be held June 26 and 27 in Miami; the second will be held a month later in Detroit.