Democrats announce candidate groups for two debate nights this month

Podiums+for+the+Democratic+presidential+debate+Nov.+14%2C+2015%2C+at+Drake+University.

Katy Klopfenstein/Iowa State Dai

Podiums for the Democratic presidential debate Nov. 14, 2015, at Drake University.

Jake Webster

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) selected the lineup for the two presidential debate nights in Miami June 26 and June 27 on Friday.

The debates — which will be broadcast live on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. central time — will be the first of a dozen debates the DNC has planned.

The first debate of the 2016 Republican primary — which was the largest field of candidates in presidential primary history until this year’s seven-candidate increase on their 17 — had 24 million viewers, according to Nielsen data.

The DNC announced the 20 candidates who qualified for a podium will be divided into two groups: those polling an average of 2% and higher, and those below that threshold. The DNC said they would equally split candidates from the higher tier between the two debate nights, in order to prevent the poll leaders from dominating one debate night.

The candidates appearing on the stage for the June 26 debate are:

  • Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey

  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

  • Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas

  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

  • Former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland

  • Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii

  • Former Housing and Urban Development Sec. Julián Castro of Texas

  • Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio

  • New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York

  • Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington

The candidates appearing on the stage for the June 27 debate are:

  • Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont

  • Sen. Kamala Harris of California

  • Former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware

  • South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg of Indiana

  • Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado

  • Author Marianne Williamson of California

  • Rep. Eric Swalwell of California

  • Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

  • Businessman Andrew Yang of New York

  • Former Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado

NBC decided which night each group of candidates would appear on.