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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
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The Democratic debate: a wrap-up video

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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

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Biden says he left a big time law firm, but left to become a public defender because his "state was under siege" after the assassination of MLK.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:53
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"The fact of the matter is that what's happened is that we're in a situation now where there are so many people who are in jail who shouldn't be in jail," Biden says, calling for a change in the model.

"Nobody should be in jail for a nonviolent crime," he said.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:54
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"I'm the only one who has ever beat the NRA. I'm the only one who has ever beat the NRA nationally," Biden says, referring to the Brady Bill that was passed int he 1990s.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:57
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Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:58
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The crowd in Texas is cheering after Biden praised O'Rourke's response to the shooting in El Paso.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:58
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Harris is making her case for executive action on gun violence, and saying she has seen a lot of autopsies.

It's a line she has used before, in a debate as well.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:00
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"Obviously he didn't pull the trigger, but he's certainly been tweeting out the ammunition," Harris says on whether Trump is responsible for the shootings we've seen lately.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:01
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O'Rourke stands by his plan to take people's guns "if it is a weapon that was designed to kill people on the battlefield."

"If the high impact high velocity round.. shreds everything in your body, because it was designed to do that" on the battlefield, O'Rourke.

"Hell yes, we're going to take your AR15, your AK47," O'Rourke says.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:02
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Klobuchar attacks Mitch McConnell, says that there are three bills on his desk that could limit gun violence in the United States.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:05
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Booker says that nobody will bring the passion he will to the fight for gun control regulations.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:07

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