Ten Democrats faced off in a prime-time fight Wednesday night in the first debate of the 2020 presidential campaign, the unofficial starting line for the party's quest to wrestle the White House from Donald Trump and deny him a second term. Read below for a real-time recap of what happened on the debate stage (all times eastern).9:00 p.m.The first debate between the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates kicked off from Miami.Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was center stage for the debate because she led the night's field in polling. She is flanked by former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. At the far ends are New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, who were polling at the bottom of the group.Warren got the opening question as the moderators began to swiftly move through the candidates. They asked questions ranging from the economy, to college affordability, to equal pay for women in the workplace.鈥淚 think of it this way. Who is this economy really working for? It鈥檚 doing great for a thinner and thinner slice at the top,鈥� Warren declared. 鈥淭hat is corruption pure and simple ... and we need to make structural change.鈥�9:10 p.m. O'Rourke showed off his fluent Spanish while answering his first question of the debate.O'Rourke said in English that "this economy has got to work for everyone" and that, right now, it isn't. Then he switched to Spanish, saying in that language that "we need to include everyone" in a booming national economy.O'Rourke, who hails from the Texas-Mexico border city of El Paso, spoke in Spanish at length, then switched back to English. He said the Trump administration has focused on helping the wealthy and large corporations over everyday Americans 鈥� echoing similar sentiments of the other Democrats on stage.9:20 p.m.The debate over how to handle private health insurance is emerging as a dividing line in the first 2020 Democratic debate.Warren and de Blasio said they are in favor of abolishing private health insurance options in favor of a government-run system.Warren went on to note that she supports a "Medicare for All" plan proposed by fellow hopeful Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.O'Rourke was explaining why he supported a plan known as "Medicare for America" and not "Medicare for All," saying he wants people who are happy with their current health insurance plan to keep it.When pressed if he wanted to fully replace private insurance, O'Rourke said: "No." That prompted de Blasio to jump in from across the stage, saying, "Private insurance is not working."O'Rourke started to respond that people unhappy could choose Medicare, but de Blasio shot back, "Why are you defending private insurance?"9:30 p.m.The discussion of health care continued to take center-stage at the debate with candidates making their voices known when it comes to women's reproductive health and how they would combat the nation's opioid crisis.Booker said pharmaceutical companies should be held responsible for the crisis. "They should absolutely be held criminally liable because they are liable and responsible," The New Jersey senator said.9:45 p.m.The Democratic presidential candidates are decrying the Trump administration's tough immigration policies, saying the president is to blame for the deaths of a migrant father and his toddler daughter found lying face-down after drowning in the Rio Grande.Former Obama administration housing chief Castro says a photo of the family "is heartbreaking" and "should piss us all off." He also attacked fellow Texan O'Rourke for not supporting fully decriminalizing the act of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.Booker spoke briefly in Spanish to further chastise Trump's policies. O'Rourke, a former congressman, took a question in Spanish and answered it, saying, "We are going to treat everyone with respect."De Blasio says the economy hasn't been hurt by immigrants. He says corporations are to blame.10:00 p.m.Booker is alone at the debate in calling it a "mistake" to sign onto the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran.The New Jersey senator was the only one of the 10 candidates on stage not to raise his hand when asked if he supported the deal. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium and submit to U.N. inspections in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.Pressed to explain his rationale, Booker said as president he would "do the best I can to secure this country."President Trump pulled the United States out of the accord in May 2018 and has imposed increasingly tough sanctions to pressure Iran into a better deal. The U.S. has threatened sanctions against countries that trade with Iran.10:15 p.m.With the moderators noting the debate location's 50-mile proximity to Parkland, Florida, the conversation turns to the issue of gun violence in America.The candidates spoke in very personal terms about gun violence and how to curb it.Booker said that he lives in a neighborhood where shootings are common. He supports gun licensing and says, "This is not about policy. This is personal."Warren says the toughest questions she's gotten on the campaign trail are from kids who ask how she'd keep them safe. Warren says the U.S. should "double-down" on research into what works to reduce gun violence.De Blasio talked about raising a black son and trying to keep him safe, including from police.10:35 p.m.Warren's campaign trail refrain is that she has "a plan for it." That apparently extends to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who refused to hold a hearing for President Barack Obama's last Supreme Court nominee.Warren was asked during the presidential debate if she has a plan for dealing with the Kentucky Republican, who prides himself in blocking Democrats' legislative priorities.She answered, "I do," drawing cheers from the audience.The U.S. senator from Massachusetts says energized Democrats have to "stay on the front lines," even after the 2020 presidential election is decided.She says pressure must be applied both from activists on the outside and leaders on the inside "to make sure this Congress reflects the will of the people."10:45 p.m.The urgency with which to address changes in the world's climate has emerged as somewhat of a unifying topic at the debate.Inslee called his state's progress on the issue the "gold standard." He said Wednesday that he's the only member of the massive Democratic field to make tackling the problem his top priority.Asked how he'd win over voters worried about possible government overreach in climate-related restrictions, O'Rourke pledged to help communities including the debate host city Miami, an area "on the front lines of climate change today."Castro vowed a recommitment to the Paris Climate Accord, while former Delaney noted he was alone in introducing a bipartisan carbon tax bill in Congress.
MIAMI — Ten Democrats faced off in a prime-time fight Wednesday night in the first debate of the 2020 presidential campaign, the unofficial starting line for the party's quest to wrestle the White House from Donald Trump and deny him a second term.
Read below for a real-time recap of what happened on the debate stage (all times eastern).
9:00 p.m.
The first debate between the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates kicked off from Miami.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was center stage for the debate because she led the night's field in polling. She is flanked by former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. At the far ends are New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, who were polling at the bottom of the group.
Warren got the opening question as the moderators began to swiftly move through the candidates. They asked questions ranging from the economy, to college affordability, to equal pay for women in the workplace.
鈥淚 think of it this way. Who is this economy really working for? It鈥檚 doing great for a thinner and thinner slice at the top,鈥� Warren declared. 鈥淭hat is corruption pure and simple ... and we need to make structural change.鈥�
9:10 p.m.
O'Rourke showed off his fluent Spanish while answering his first question of the debate.
O'Rourke said in English that "this economy has got to work for everyone" and that, right now, it isn't. Then he switched to Spanish, saying in that language that "we need to include everyone" in a booming national economy.
O'Rourke, who hails from the Texas-Mexico border city of El Paso, spoke in Spanish at length, then switched back to English. He said the Trump administration has focused on helping the wealthy and large corporations over everyday Americans 鈥� echoing similar sentiments of the other Democrats on stage.
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, speaks at the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami, as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., left and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke listen.
9:20 p.m.
The debate over how to handle private health insurance is emerging as a dividing line in the first 2020 Democratic debate.
Warren and de Blasio said they are in favor of abolishing private health insurance options in favor of a government-run system.
Warren went on to note that she supports a "Medicare for All" plan proposed by fellow hopeful Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
O'Rourke was explaining why he supported a plan known as "Medicare for America" and not "Medicare for All," saying he wants people who are happy with their current health insurance plan to keep it.
When pressed if he wanted to fully replace private insurance, O'Rourke said: "No." That prompted de Blasio to jump in from across the stage, saying, "Private insurance is not working."
O'Rourke started to respond that people unhappy could choose Medicare, but de Blasio shot back, "Why are you defending private insurance?"
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Democratic presidential candidate New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, left, speaks during the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami, as Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, listens.
9:30 p.m.
The discussion of health care continued to take center-stage at the debate with candidates making their voices known when it comes to women's reproductive health and how they would combat the nation's opioid crisis.
Booker said pharmaceutical companies should be held responsible for the crisis.
"They should absolutely be held criminally liable because they are liable and responsible," The New Jersey senator said.
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, speaks during a Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami, as Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., listens at left.
9:45 p.m.
The Democratic presidential candidates are decrying the Trump administration's tough immigration policies, saying the president is to blame for the deaths of a migrant father and his toddler daughter found lying face-down after drowning in the Rio Grande.
Former Obama administration housing chief Castro says a photo of the family "is heartbreaking" and "should piss us all off." He also attacked fellow Texan O'Rourke for not supporting fully decriminalizing the act of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
Booker spoke briefly in Spanish to further chastise Trump's policies. O'Rourke, a former congressman, took a question in Spanish and answered it, saying, "We are going to treat everyone with respect."
De Blasio says the economy hasn't been hurt by immigrants. He says corporations are to blame.
10:00 p.m.
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks at a Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami.
Booker is alone at the debate in calling it a "mistake" to sign onto the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran.
The New Jersey senator was the only one of the 10 candidates on stage not to raise his hand when asked if he supported the deal. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium and submit to U.N. inspections in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Pressed to explain his rationale, Booker said as president he would "do the best I can to secure this country."
President Trump pulled the United States out of the accord in May 2018 and has imposed increasingly tough sanctions to pressure Iran into a better deal. The U.S. has threatened sanctions against countries that trade with Iran.
10:15 p.m.
With the moderators noting the debate location's 50-mile proximity to Parkland, Florida, the conversation turns to the issue of gun violence in America.
The candidates spoke in very personal terms about gun violence and how to curb it.
Booker said that he lives in a neighborhood where shootings are common. He supports gun licensing and says, "This is not about policy. This is personal."
Warren says the toughest questions she's gotten on the campaign trail are from kids who ask how she'd keep them safe. Warren says the U.S. should "double-down" on research into what works to reduce gun violence.
De Blasio talked about raising a black son and trying to keep him safe, including from police.
10:35 p.m.
Warren's campaign trail refrain is that she has "a plan for it." That apparently extends to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who refused to hold a hearing for President Barack Obama's last Supreme Court nominee.
Warren was asked during the presidential debate if she has a plan for dealing with the Kentucky Republican, who prides himself in blocking Democrats' legislative priorities.
She answered, "I do," drawing cheers from the audience.
The U.S. senator from Massachusetts says energized Democrats have to "stay on the front lines," even after the 2020 presidential election is decided.
She says pressure must be applied both from activists on the outside and leaders on the inside "to make sure this Congress reflects the will of the people."
10:45 p.m.
The urgency with which to address changes in the world's climate has emerged as somewhat of a unifying topic at the debate.
Inslee called his state's progress on the issue the "gold standard." He said Wednesday that he's the only member of the massive Democratic field to make tackling the problem his top priority.
Asked how he'd win over voters worried about possible government overreach in climate-related restrictions, O'Rourke pledged to help communities including the debate host city Miami, an area "on the front lines of climate change today."
Castro vowed a recommitment to the Paris Climate Accord, while former Delaney noted he was alone in introducing a bipartisan carbon tax bill in Congress.