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As it happenedended

Democratic debate: Who won? Candidates clash over healthcare, immigration, impeachment and more

Candidates clash over immigration, gun violence and the economy

Clark Mindock
Miami
,Chris Stevenson,Chelsea Ritschel
Thursday 27 June 2019 06:41 BST
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Democratic debate: Best moments of night one

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The race to the White house has officially begun, with the first Democratic presidential debate in Miami now over.

Tonight's showdown featured: Cory Booker, Bill de Blasio, Julián Castro, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard​, Jay Inslee​, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O'Rourke, Tim Ryan and Elizabeth Warren.

The candidates clashed over immigration, gun violence and the economy - as well as getting in a number of digs at President Donald Trump.

The second 2020 debate will take place on Thursday evening with the remaining ten candidates having their chance to prove why they should be America's next president.

Follow how the debate progressed in the liveblog below

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Here's The Independent's Voices editor Holly Baxter with her take on the first round of debates - 

Chris Riotta27 June 2019 05:25

Donald Trump has just tweeted the following message about an upcoming meeting with the prime minister of India following the 2020 debates - 

Chris Riotta27 June 2019 05:30

Of course not everyone was impressed with tonight's performance...

Lucy Anna Gray27 June 2019 05:51

One of the biggest topics of tonight's debate was - inevitably - immigration. 

In a particularly strong statement, Congressman Tim Ryan claimed "terrorists at Guantanamo Bay" receive better healthcare than migrant children at the US-Mexico border.

"We have kids laying in their own snot with three-week-old diapers that haven't been changed. We need to tell the president that is not a sign of strength. That is a sign of weakness," said Mr Ryan.

Lucy Anna Gray27 June 2019 05:52

The next debate - still in Miami - will begin at 9pmEST (2am in the UK). The ten candidates are: 

Marianne Williamson

John Hickenlooper

Andrew Yang

Pete Buttigieg

Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Bernie Sanders

Kamala Harris

Kirsten Gillibrand

Michael Bennet

Eric Swalwe

Lucy Anna Gray27 June 2019 05:59

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