Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1568349281

Democratic debate: Protesters interrupt Joe Biden during his closing segment

10 presidential hopefuls took to the stage in Houston

Andrew Buncombe
Houston, Texas
,Clark Mindock
Friday 13 September 2019 03:25 BST
Comments
The Democratic debate: a wrap-up video

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

The leading 10 candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination took to the debating stage, bringing heavyweights in the field Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders all on to the same stage for the first time.

The presidential hopefuls tackled healthcare, gun control, education and more, with several heated clashes between the rivals.

In the last section of the debate, former Vice President Biden was interrupted when he went to answer a question about his “most significant professional setback”.

Although it was unclear what the protest was about, people in the hall have said the demonstrators chanted: “We are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.”

Earlier in the debate Mr Biden had been questioned about deportations under the Barack Obama administration, a question which he deftly dodged.

He came under particular fire from Julian Castro, both over who could claim the mantle of being the true successor to Barack Obama and, controversially, over Mr Biden's memory.

Beto O'Rourke focused on gun violence and said he would institute a mandatory buyback scheme for assault rifles, saying: "Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15s."

Tonight’s candidates were: Mr Biden, Ms Warren, Mr Sanders Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, and Andrew Yang.

Catch-up on events as they happened below.

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

1568334247

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:24
1568334300

Biden is defending his healthcare plan, and says that people who like their healthcare plan now "can keep it" under his plan.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:25
1568334335

Biden is going hard against Warren and Sanders on their plans. He's saying the plans they have will cost a lot of money, and they are both smirking.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:25
1568334423

Good line form Warren: "I've actually never met anybody who likes their health insurance company," before noting that some like doctors, nurses, but not the companies.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:27
1568334512

Klobuchar attacks Sanders for his "I wrote the damn bill" thing.

"While Bernie wrote the bill, I read the bill," she said.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:28
1568334583

"Let's be clear about this People will have access to all of their doctors all of their nurses their community hospitals, their rural hospitals," Warren says in response to Klobuchar claiming millions will lose health insurance over Medicare for All.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:29
1568334633

Buttigieg says that Sanders' Medicare for All bill "doesn't trust the American people", and says he trusts Americans to choose their healthcare plans.

He has a "Medicare for all who want it" plan.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:30
1568334686

"Medicare for All is comprehensive healthcare," Sanders says, responding to these attacks that people will lose health coverage with his plan.

The plan he and Warren favour is aimed at universal coverage.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:31
1568334737

Harris thanks Barack Obama for his leadership on healthcare.

She then gives credit to Sanders, and says that her Medicare for All plan allows choice of a private plan if they want.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:32
1568334803

Harris says that Donald Trump is trying to cut health coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:33

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in