Democratic debate: Protesters interrupt Joe Biden during his closing segment
10 presidential hopefuls took to the stage in Houston
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](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/eric-garcia.png)
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
Biden is defending his healthcare plan, and says that people who like their healthcare plan now "can keep it" under his plan.
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.
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.
Klobuchar attacks Sanders for his "I wrote the damn bill" thing.
"While Bernie wrote the bill, I read the bill," she said.
"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.
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.
"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.
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.
Harris says that Donald Trump is trying to cut health coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments