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As it happenedended1568349281

Democratic debate: Protesters interrupt Joe Biden during his closing segment

10 presidential hopefuls took to the stage in Houston

Andrew Buncombe
Houston, Texas
,Clark Mindock
Thursday 12 September 2019 22:25 EDT
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The Democratic debate: a wrap-up video

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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

The leading 10 candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination took to the debating stage, bringing heavyweights in the field Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders all on to the same stage for the first time.

The presidential hopefuls tackled healthcare, gun control, education and more, with several heated clashes between the rivals.

In the last section of the debate, former Vice President Biden was interrupted when he went to answer a question about his “most significant professional setback”.

Although it was unclear what the protest was about, people in the hall have said the demonstrators chanted: “We are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.”

Earlier in the debate Mr Biden had been questioned about deportations under the Barack Obama administration, a question which he deftly dodged.

He came under particular fire from Julian Castro, both over who could claim the mantle of being the true successor to Barack Obama and, controversially, over Mr Biden's memory.

Beto O'Rourke focused on gun violence and said he would institute a mandatory buyback scheme for assault rifles, saying: "Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15s."

Tonight’s candidates were: Mr Biden, Ms Warren, Mr Sanders Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, and Andrew Yang.

Catch-up on events as they happened below.

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

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Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:40
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Warren says that "we cannot keep asking our military to keep solving problems that cannot be solved militarily."

She is saying that an international effort must be taken to fight terrorism, and that bombs are not the only answer.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:45
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Warren says she was with John McCain in Afghanistan two years ago, and says she talked to people on the ground there.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:53
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Sanders says "I never believed" what the Bush administration said about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, after Biden claimed he was against the Iraq war after he found out there was no yellow cake uranium.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:54
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Sanders says that is unfair to compare his form of Democratic socialism to what is happening in Venezuela.

He compares his policy ideas to what you see in Canada or in Scandinavia, with universal healthcare coverage.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:58
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Castro calls for 21st century Marshall Plan for Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 02:59
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Booker, a vegan, says that he does not think that solving climate change's problems means everyone needs to follow the same diet as him. He says that factory farming, however, is detrimental.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 03:01
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Warren says that climate change "is the threat to every living thing on the planet". 

She says that she wants to use regulations to cut carbon emissions.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 03:04
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Harris says she looks at the issue of climate change "through the lens" of her baby nieces.

She also says that Republicans lack "courage" in addressing the climate crisis.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 03:06
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"I am pro good school," Yang says.

He notes that his child just started public school last week, and calls for paying teachers more.

He says that "we need to lighten up our emphasis on standardized tests".

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 03:09

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