DNC toughens qualification criteria for December debate

by Rafael Nam - 10/25/19 10:25 AM ET

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Friday announced tougher criteria for the sixth primary debate set to take place in December, a move that is likely to further winnow the field of presidential candidates who will be on stage.

To qualify for the Dec. 19 debate, White House hopefuls must meet one of two polling thresholds: 4 percent support in at least four polls, either national surveys or statewide polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada; or 6 percent support in two single-state surveys in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada.

{mosads}The new standards exceed the polling criteria for the November debate, which required candidates register at least 3 percent in four or more qualifying polls or 5 percent in two single-state polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada.

Qualifying polls for December must be sponsored by one of 16 designated media and polling entities and meet other specific criteria, including release dates between Oct. 16 and Dec. 12.

In addition, candidates must receive contributions from at least 200,000 unique donors, as well as a minimum of 800 unique donors per state in at least 20 states, U.S. territories or the District of Columbia.

The criteria for the November debate requires candidates amass support from at least 165,000 unique donors, including a minimum of 600 donors per state in at least 20 states.

The qualifying deadline for the December debate is Dec. 12.

The DNC also announced that PBS Newshour and Politico will be co-hosting the December debate.

The DNC has gradually tightened its criteria for the debates, requiring candidates to demonstrate wider support to make it to the stage.

The first two debates, in June and July, featured 20 candidates each spread across four nights. But only 10 candidates made it to the September debate, while 12 made it to this month’s debate after the polling and fundraising criteria were tightened.

So far, nine candidates have qualified for the November debate: former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, finance executive Tom Steyer, businessman Andrew Yang, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Failure to qualify for the debates has contributed to the decision by some candidates to drop out of the race, because absence from the stages took away chances to introduce themselves to primary voters and further hurt their fundraising.

Earlier this year, more than two dozen contenders were in the race, one of the largest fields ever. There are now 18 candidates.

Among those who have dropped out are New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and most recently, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).

— Updated at 11:03 a.m.