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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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Andrew Yang is up, and says that "in America today, everything revolves around the almighty dollar".

Yang is doing "something unprecedented tonight", he said, and is raffling off his Freedom Dividend — the $1,000 a month — to 12 families. There's your surprise!

It appears as though Kamala Harris started laughing at the idea.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:12
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Pete Buttigieg up now, and the Iraq war veteran is calling for unity — describing the need for presidential leadership.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:13
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And now we have Kamala Harris, who is the first to directly speak to Donald Trump tonight.

Says that he has used "hate, intimidation, fear" and lives to distract from his record.

She also suggests that she would indict Mr Trump once he is out of office, if she is president.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:14
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Sorry everyone, it appears that it was Amy Klobuchar laughing after Andrew Yang's big money announcement earlier.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:15
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Bernie Sanders is up now, and attacking Mr Trump as well while laying out his campaign promises.

He sounds a bit hoarse.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:15
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Elizabeth Warren is now up, saying she was "born and raised in Oklahoma, but I'm sure glad to be in Texas tonight."

She's going after Texas voters pretty hard, noting her brothers served in the military in Texas, and that she went to school right there in Houston (for $50 a semester).

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:16
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Joe Biden is up, leading with a promise to cure cancer, alzheimers and other diseases.

Also promising universal pre-k, taking on climate change.

"Look this is the United States of America. There's never been single solitary time where we" haven't done what we put our mind to.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:18
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First question is for Biden, on whether Sanders and Warren are pushing too far.

Biden says it's up to voters to decide. Says he thinks they should have a debate on healthcare, before taking a swipe at Warren.

"I know the senator says she's for Bernie, well I'm for Barack," he said, referencing his continued support for Obamacare.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:20
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Warren says "we all owe a huge debt to president Obama, who fundamentally" changed healthcare in America.

She says that middle class Americans will ultimately pay less - in terms of "total cost" - for healthcare, when asked if they will pay more in taxes.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:22
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Sanders agrees with Biden that his Medicare for All approach will cost $30 trillion — but says that the "status quo" will cost $50 trillion over the next 10 years.

Clark Mindock13 September 2019 01:23

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