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Tenth Democratic Candidate Qualifies For Upcoming Presidential Debate

   DailyWire.com
20 Democratic presidential candidates were split into two groups of 10 to take part in the debate sponsored by CNN
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro announced on Tuesday that he has officially qualified to participate in the third Democratic primary debate.

“Hey y’all, great news today. We made it into the third debate in Houston. I’m on my way to the Native American forum in Sioux City, Iowa, but I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you,” Castro said from the backseat of a car. “Gracias, to all our supporters across the country who chipped in a dollar, five dollars, ten dollars. This campaign is being funded by you, everyday Americans.”

“I also want to say thanks for spreading the word to your family, and your friends, and colleagues,” he continued in the video. “Let’s keep momentum. We’ll make you proud in Houston.”

In order to nab a podium on the upcoming Texas debate stage, presidential hopefuls must raise campaign donations from no less than 130,000 individual donors and receive at least 2 percent of the vote in four or more polls that have been pre-approved by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

CNN confirmed that Castro is the tenth Democratic presidential candidate to meet the qualifying threshold and subsequently accept an invitation onto the debate state: former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and entrepreneur Andrew Yang will all be participating.

Castro surpassed his final qualifying benchmark after a CNN poll released Tuesday morning showed the former San Antonio mayor polling at the 2 percent needed. The poll, conducted by SSRS, also moved Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) closer to qualifying. While Gabbard has already met the fundraising threshold, she still needs two more qualifying polls before she will receive an invitation onto the debate stage.

Billionaire financier Tom Steyer is only one DNC-approved poll from qualifying. Author Marianne Williamson and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee both revealed earlier in the week that they had crossed the 130,000 donor benchmark, but neither candidate has received at least 2 percent in any DNC-registered polls.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) also needs one more poll to show her above 2%, but has yet to meet the required number of donors. The remaining Democratic presidential candidates still have through the end of the month of August to qualify.

The debate is scheduled to take place on September 12th in Houston, Texas, however, if an eleventh candidate qualifies for a podium, the event will be split into two days.

Not appearing on the debate stage raises serious red flags for a candidate’s presidential campaign, and consequently, the high bar to qualify may help to whittle down the crowded primary field.

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