The two Texas Democrats running for president in 2020 may have trouble qualifying for the November debate. The Democratic National Committee on Monday released the latest rules for qualification for the debates, and it doesn't look good for Beto O'Rourke or Julian Castro. The new rules raise the required thresholds for polling and donors, and are likely to further narrow the field from the ten candidates who participated in last month's debate in Houston.
According to an email Castro sent out to his supporters Thursday, if he doesn't meet a specific threshold, he won't make the November debate. He says if he doesn't get into the debate, "it will be the end of my campaign." Castro asked for donations, which he would put toward ads, to help him in the polls, which says is aimed at keeping specific candidates out of the running. "I know this new debate threshold is designed to cut candidates like me from the running," the email said. "It’s designed for wealthy candidates with unlimited funds to blanket the airwaves with their message. But I wasn’t born into privilege like other candidates."
O'Rourke and Castro are both struggling in the low single digits. The date of the November debate in Ohio hasn't been announced.
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