2024 Democratic Party presidential debates and forums explained

Several debates and forums took place among candidates in the campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in the 2024 United States presidential election, which were sponsored by private organizations, rather than the party. The Democratic National Committee expressed full support for incumbent president Joe Biden with no primary debates.[1] Although initially adamant that he would remain in the race, Biden ultimately withdrew on July 21 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the party's nominee on August 5. Harris selected Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate.

Background

See main article: article and 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries. Joe Biden was elected president of the United States after defeating Republican nominee Donald Trump in 2020. While Biden had repeatedly expressed his intent to run for re-election since 2021, there was speculation in the first two years of his presidency that he might not seek re-election due to his age and low approval ratings.[2] [3] After Democrats outperformed expectations in the 2022 midterm elections, many believed the chances that Biden would run for and win his party's nomination had increased,[4] and on April 25, 2023, Biden announced that he would run for re-election.[5] On July 21, 2024, Biden suspended his re-election campaign. [6]

Several candidates had challenged Biden in the primary election. Author Marianne Williamson declared her candidacy in March 2023, which was followed by attorney and conspiracy theorist[7] Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in April[8] and Representative Dean Phillips in October.[9] Kennedy withdrew from the Democratic primaries in October 2023 to run as an independent candidate.[10] Cenk Uygur, a founder of The Young Turks,[11] announced a campaign in October 2023 despite not being eligible for the presidency.[12]

Biden's participation

Despite no incumbent president ever having participated in a primary season debate,[13] a June 2023 poll by USA Today and Suffolk University found that 8 in 10 Democratic voters wanted to see Biden debate the other Democratic candidates. Among Biden supporters, 72% said they would like to see him debate in the primaries with other Democratic candidates.[14] The Democratic National Committee expressed no support for hosting any official primary debates. Williamson criticized this decision as "rigging" and "candidate suppression."[15]

Debates

The first debate was hosted by New England College on January 8, 2024.[16] A second event (described as both a debate and a forum), hosted by Dan Abrams on NewsNation, took place on January 12, 2024.[17]

Debates featuring at least two major candidates are included in the following table.

Schedule

Debates among candidates for the 2024 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination
No. Date Place Host Participants
Participant. Invitee. Absent. Not Invited BidenPhillipsWilliamsonUygur
1January 8, 2024Manchester, New HampshireNew England College
2January 12, 2024New York City, New YorkNewsNation

January 8, 2024 – Manchester, New Hampshire

On January 8, 2024, Williamson and Phillips participated in a debate hosted by New England College in Manchester, New Hampshire.[16] The debate was broadcast on satellite radio by Sirius XM[18] and was moderated by Josh McElveen, who was the former political director of WMUR.[19]

Criteria

To qualify, candidates needed to be registered on the New Hampshire primary ballot and poll at more than five percent.[20] As Biden did not file for the New Hampshire primary ballot in deference to Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules changing the primary calendar,[21] he was not invited to the debate, and instead gave a campaign speech in South Carolina discussing white supremacy and attacking Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.[22]

Summary

The two candidates spent most of the debate attacking Biden and the DNC, rather than each other.[23] At one point, the moderator had to interject to get the candidates to draw contrasts with each other on stage.[24] Both candidates criticized several state Democratic parties for actions taken to make it more difficult for them to get on the ballot. Both candidates also indicated support for student debt cancellation and opposition to removing Donald Trump from the ballot. Phillips invoked Biden's poll numbers to try to argue that he would be unable to defeat Trump in a general election. Williamson criticized Phillips for not supporting Medicare for All until two months after he had started his campaign and not taking any action on it in Congress, and described focusing on Trump as a distraction.

Reactions to the debate were mixed. Politico described it as a dud, while many attendees surveyed by USA Today said they liked what they heard.[25] Both newspapers agreed that the debate would likely be inconsequential to the primary.

January 12, 2024 - New York City, New York

On January 12, 2024, NewsNation recorded a forum in New York City, New York[26] featuring Williamson, Phillips and Uygur. Biden was invited but did not attend. The discussion was moderated by Dan Abrams and aired on his show that night.[27] The event was described as both a forum, debate, and discussion, but candidates were allowed to respond to one another.

January 18, 2024 – Minor candidates debate

On January 18, 2024, Free & Equal Elections Foundation hosted a debate at Chelsea Television Studios in New York City.[28] The debate was originally planned to be held in Los Angeles. Christina Tobin moderated the debate.[29] All candidates registered for the ballot "in at least four states" were invited: Biden, Phillips, Williamson, Uygur, Gabriel Cornejo, Stephen Lyons, Jason Palmer, and Frank Lozada.[29] However, only the latter four candidates chose to participate.[30]

Forums

December 6, 2023 - The Young Turks Forum

On December 6, 2023, The Young Turks Network hosted a forum featuring Williamson and Phillips, as well as Uygur. Biden was invited but declined to attend. The candidates responded to the GOP debate being held in Tuscaloosa, which was scheduled to end at the same time. The discussion was moderated by John Iadarola, the main host of The Damage Report on the same network.[31]

January 19, 2024 - New Hampshire forum

Phillips and Williamson were part of a forum held at the Artisan Hotel in Tuscan Village, Salem, New Hampshire. It was hosted by the Rotary Club and the Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.[32]

See also

External links

References

  1. News: Shepherd . Brittany. March 3, 2023 . Democratic Party remains united behind Biden as long shot 2024 challengers emerge. ABC News . en.
  2. Web site: Gangitano. Alex . November 18, 2021 . Harris says 2024 is 'absolutely not' being discussed yet with Biden. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211119144835/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/582105-harris-says-2024-is-absolutely-not-being-discussed-yet-with-biden . November 19, 2021 . November 19, 2021 . The Hill.
  3. Web site: Gittleson, Ben . December 22, 2021 . Biden tells ABC's David Muir 'yes' he'll run again, Trump rematch would 'increase the prospect'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220130091322/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-tells-abcs-david-muir-hell-run-trump/story?id=81901418 . January 30, 2022 . January 21, 2022 . ABC News . en.
  4. Web site: Enten . Harry . December 18, 2022 . How the midterms changed the 2024 primaries for Biden and Trump. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20221230123609/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/18/politics/biden-trump-2024-primaries-elections-desantis/index.html . December 30, 2022 . December 25, 2022 . CNN.
  5. Web site: Doyle, Katherine . Alba, Monical . April 25, 2023 . Biden announces he is running for re-election, framing 2024 as a choice between 'more rights or fewer'. July 7, 2023 . NBC News . en.
  6. News: Shear . Michael D. . July 21, 2024 . Live Updates: Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Harris . July 21, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  7. Multiple sources:
  8. Web site: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches long shot presidential bid as a Democrat. July 7, 2023 . ABC News . en.
  9. Web site: Otterbein . Holly . Schneider . Elena . October 26, 2023 . Rep. Dean Phillips files paperwork for presidential bid against Biden. October 26, 2023 . Politico.
  10. Web site: Swenson . Ali . October 9, 2023 . Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will run for president as an independent and drop his Democratic primary bid. October 9, 2023 . Associated Press.
  11. Web site: Thompson . Alex . April 10, 2020 . Inside the union campaign that roiled left-wing network The Young Turks. May 24, 2022 . . en.
  12. Web site: October 11, 2023 . Cenk Uygur running for president as Democrat. Semafor. January 18, 2024 . en. Weigel. David.
  13. Web site: Shepherd . Brittany . June 2, 2023 . No incumbent president has participated in a primary debate since Ford. Democrats want to keep it that way.. July 6, 2023 . ABC News.
  14. News: Page . Susan . June 11, 2023 . Poll: Eight in 10 Democratic primary voters want Joe Biden to debate. USA Today . en.
  15. Web site: Marianne Williamson . May 31, 2023. Debate Us, Mr. President. July 6, 2023 . Newsweek . en.
  16. Web site: Democratic debate stage without Biden sparks 'Trump vibes' for some voters. USA Today. January 9, 2024. January 9, 2024. Waddick. Karissa.
  17. Web site: Democratic candidates offer visions for US as Biden alternative . NewsNation. January 12, 2024. January 13, 2024. Wornell. Tyler.
  18. Web site: Biden's longshot Democratic challengers make their case at New Hampshire debate. Koning. Joseph. NY1. January 9, 2024. January 9, 2024.
  19. Web site: Dem candidates Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips debate. Menezes. Damita. NewsNation. January 8, 2024. January 9, 2024.
  20. Web site: Timotija. Filip. December 29, 2023 . Williamson, Phillips set to debate each other in New Hampshire. January 8, 2024. The Hill.
  21. Web site: Chamlee . Virginia . Why President Biden Won't Appear on the New Hampshire Primary Ballot. January 10, 2024 . . en.
  22. Web site: Mason . Jeff . January 9, 2024 . Biden denounces 'poison' of white supremacy in South Carolina Black church. January 13, 2024 . Reuters.
  23. Web site: Lips . Evan . January 9, 2024 . Phillips, Williamson Debate in NH, but Real Targets are Biden, DNC . January 11, 2024 . NH Journal . en-US.
  24. Web site: Kashinsky . Lisa . January 8, 2024 . Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson rail against Biden to a crowd of seventh graders. January 10, 2024 . . en.
  25. Web site: Democratic debate stage without Biden sparks 'Trump vibes' for some voters. January 10, 2024 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  26. Phillips. Dean. deanbphillips. 1746033748292862134. From a @NewsNation debate with @marwilliamson and @cenkuygur in NYC this morning, to a packed house at Water Street Books in Exeter, NH this evening - the practice of democracy is awesome. .
  27. Web site: Democratic candidates offer visions for US as Biden alternative . NewsNation. January 12, 2024. January 13, 2024. Wornell . Tyler.
  28. We are thrilled to announce the #FreeAndEqual national Democratic debate will be held in NYC at Chelsea Television Studios (venue change) on Jan. 18th & starts at 8 pm EST. Livestreamed by @rumblevideo!#Elections2024 #DemocraticDebate #ChelseaTelevisionStudios @AllMobileVideo. FreeandEqual. 1745870950720225335. January 12, 2024. January 12, 2024.
  29. Free & Equal Elections to Host National Democratic Debate Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. January 21, 2024. January 5, 2024. ABC27. en-US.
  30. Web site: Winger . Richard . January 18, 2024 . Free & Equal Debate for Four Democratic Presidential Candidates is Set for Thursday Evening, January 18. Ballot Access News. January 18, 2024. en-US.
  31. News: Timotija . Filip . December 5, 2023 . Biden primary challengers to appear in televised event after GOP debate . December 6, 2023 . The Hill.
  32. Web site: Phillips, Williamson hold multiple campaign events around New Hampshire. WMUR-TV. January 19, 2024. January 20, 2024. Tansino. Marissa.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2024 Democratic Party presidential debates and forums".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.