The second Democratic presidential debate will be hosted in Detroit on July 30 and 31. The Democratic National Convention approved 12 debates, which will start in June 2019.
The DNC told the Detroit Free Press the primary debate will host approximately 20 candidates including Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Beto O’Rourke, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Elizabeth Warren.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez told the Detroit Free Press the debate is being held in Detroit because of the character of the city.
“Detroit embodies the values and character of the Democratic Party,” said Perez. “It’s a city of grit and determination, a city that has gotten knocked down, only to get back up stronger … Detroit is the perfect place for our party’s second debate.”
Camille Mancuso, LSA sophomore and communications director for the University of Michigan’s chapter of College Democrats, said the debate in Detroit is a reflection of the state of Michigan’s important role in the upcoming election.
“I think obviously our organization has talked a lot about how Michigan is going to be a really important state in the 2020 election,” Mancuso said. “And I think that having the debate in Detroit is just another example of politicians recognizing the importance of Michigan and a lot of Midwestern states for the 2020 elections.”
Mancuso also noted the significance of holding the debate in Detroit, a city with a history of economic issues important to many Democrats.
“Specifically having it in Detroit I think is going to be really exciting,” Mancuso said. “Detroit is a city that has been hit pretty hard with a lot of economic struggles and there are a lot of issues that are really prevalent to the people of Detroit that I think will be brought up by Democrats during the debates so it’s going to be really interesting how that all works out.”
LSA junior Kate Nachazel, vice president of the University’s chapter of College Republicans, echoed Mancuso’s points of Michigan being a key state in the 2020 election. Nachazel also said she was glad to see an opportunity for Detroit residents to gain attention in the election.
“I’m excited about it,” Nachazel said. “There was one in Detroit for the Republican Party in the 2016 election. I’m really excited that Detroit’s getting a lot of recognition. I’m from a suburb of Detroit, so anything that boosts economy and gives Detroiters an influence and power in the national stage is really a good thing. I’m really interested to see what the Democrats have to say because I don’t want to just blindly support the incumbent and I want to make sure I hear all views.”
The first debate will be held in Miami, Florida.