The fourth democratic debate, hosted by CNN and The New York Times, took place last night, but did the candidates address the issues you care about? Check our our recap below, with video and quotes from the debate.
Gun control
In our poll, 42 percent of those polled identified gun control as a main concern that they hoped candidates covered during the debate. Here’s what some of the candidates had to say.
Castro: “Police violence is also gun violence.”
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro addressed his stance on the gun debate during the debate by referencing the issue of police violence
Video courtesy of CNN & The New York Times.
O’Rourke on how “taking your AK-47’s” would work.
Beto O’Rourke, former Texas Representative, has made the controversial statement that he would institute a mandatory gun buyback program as president. CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked about how this plan would be implemented.
“If someone does not turn in an AR-15 or an AK-47, one of these weapons of war, or brings it out in public and brandishes it in an attempt to intimidate, as we saw when we were at Kent State recently, then that weapon will be taken from them. If they persist, they will be other consequences from law enforcement.
But the expectation is that Americans will follow the law. I believe in this country. I believe in my fellow Americans. I believe that they will do the right thing.”
Immigration
The second most popular topic for those who responded to the poll was immigration, with 16.1 percent of the vote.
Although there were no questions from moderators about immigration, a few candidates briefly mentioned the topic or responded later on twitter.
The only candidate to mention immigration reform during the debate was Pete Buttegieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
“Immigration reform isn’t enough unless we also decriminalize border crossings,” he said.
California Senator Kamala Harris and Castro responded about the lack of immigration questions on Twitter.
Three hours.
Not one question about the climate crisis.
Not one question about LGBTQ+ rights.
Not one question about immigration.
These issues are too important to ignore. #DemDebate
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 16, 2019
Three hours and no questions tonight about climate, housing, or immigration.
Climate change is an existential threat. America has a housing crisis. Children are still in cages at our border.
But you know, Ellen.#DemocraticDebate
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) October 16, 2019
Economy: How should we treat billionaires?
The third most popular issue for respondents, at 9.7 percent of responses, was how the candidates handle the economy.
Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman himself, responds to the claims that billionaires shouldn’t exist.
Video courtesy of CNN & The New York Times.
Medicare For All vs. Medicare for All Who Want It
Respondents to our poll were also interested in healthcare.
During the debate, Buttegieg and Warren got into a heated debate about whether Medicare For All or Medicare For All Who Want It would be better for Americans.
Video courtesy of CNN & The New York Times.
Check out our live coverage of the event.
