Democrats schedule 6 presidential primary debates starting in October

A total of six debates are scheduled, with six different sponsors: October. 13 in Nevada (hosted by CNN); November. 14 in Des Moines, Iowa (CBS/KCCI and The Des Moines Register); December 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire (ABC/WMUR); January 17 in Charleston, South Carolina (NBC/Congressional Black Caucus Institute); and two scheduled for either February or March in Miami, Florida, and Wisconsin, hosted by Univision/The Washington Post and PBS, respectively.

All eyes may be on the Republicans as they prepare to go head-to-head in the first debate of the 2016 presidential election, but the considerably smaller pool of Democratic hopefuls will soon face off as well.

The October meeting will be the first contested primary debate in the Democratic Party since 2008, when Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and several other contenders debated.

Some Democrats have said they want more than six showdowns with the former first lady and secretary of state. Thus Univision will likely host its first traditional debate that isn’t targeted squarely at Hispanic voters. Bernie Sanders, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, former Virginia senator Jim Webb and former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee.

“By inserting themselves into the debate process, the DNC has ironically made it less democratic”, said O’Malley adviser Bill Hyers in a statement.

Democratic long-shot candidate Martin O’Malley has taken aim at the DNC’s handling of the debates process, alleging Wasserman Schultz was attempting to tilt the scales in Clinton’s favor by limiting the number of debates and delaying them until the fall.

The decision has already prompted complaints from candidates trying to challenge front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton for the nomination.

“Don’t restrict Democratic candidates’ primary debates”, the petition reads.

One potential latecomer to the race could be Vice President Joe Biden, who may have toyed with the idea of tossing his name in the hat, but there’s so far little indication he’ll end up on the debate stage. CNN and Salem Radio will be co-hosting that forum.

Clinton’s team said she is looking forward to participating in the debates this fall.