Two nights. Twenty candidates. Six hopefuls who happen to be women. After months of anticipation, the Democratic debates are finally here—and are expected to be like nothing we've ever seen before. Taking place on June 26 and 27, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, each night will feature 10 candidates selected at random to avoid putting all the top-tier Democrats on the same night.
First up? Tonight, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has pulled ahead in the polls in recent weeks, squares off against New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), former congressman Beto O'Rourke, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Governor Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), and former congressman John Delaney. Then comes some of the heavier hitters. On Thursday, former vice president Joe Biden, South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), entrepreneur Andrew Yang, author Marianne Williamson, former governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper, Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) will all face off.
While the topics of the debate haven't been announced, NBC has shared who will be asking the questions. There will be five moderators for the two nights, including Today coanchor Savannah Guthrie, NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt, Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, and Noticias Telemundo host José Diaz-Balart.
The debates will be available to watch on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo and free to stream on nbcnews.com, msnbc.com, the NBC News app, and all Telemundo digital platforms. But before you get out your popcorn (and much needed glass of wine) to watch the debates, here's everything you need to know about the female candidates' strategies for the big night.
Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)
When she'll appear: The California senator will take the stage during the second night of the debates.
What she'll talk about: Harris recently proposed a massive tax cut for middle-class families, known as Livable Incomes for Families Today. It's the most robust piece of policy on her platform and would provide refundable tax credits to families, and allow them to receive their benefits on a monthly basis. Harris will definitely try to touch on it, as well as her support of "Medicare for All."
How they'll attack her: Harris hasn't been able to shake her "tough on crime" past in her campaign so far. While serving as the first female attorney general of California, she supported criminal justice stances that some consider conservative. For example, she enforced an antitruancy program and fought to release fewer incarcerated people. She's already had to defend her record since announcing her run, so if anybody criticizes Harris, this is most likely how they'll go for the jugular.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
When she'll appear: Warren will take part in the first night of the debates. According to The Hill, many think Warren got the short end of the stick being assigned to the first night, as this prevents her from debating Biden and Sanders, her closest opponents in the polls who will both appear during night two.
What she'll talk about: "Warren Has a Plan for That" has become the tagline of her campaign, and that's exactly what she'll hit on—her policies. Some of her proposals include a new tax on Americans with a net worth of $50 million or more, and would also tax billionaires an additional 1 percent. The economy is Warren's passion point, and she's also likely to discuss her proposed Accountable Capitalism Act, which would redistribute trillions from American corporations to the middle class.
How they'll attack her: Everyone will be gunning for Warren, since she's the highest-polling candidate appearing during the first night. How will they do it? By bringing up that pesky DNA test. TL;DR: Donald Trump challenged Warren to take a DNA test to prove her self-proclaimed Native American heritage. Warren took the test and while she found that she had some Native American roots, she offended the Cherokee nation—and drew criticism from voters.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
When she'll appear: The senator will debate on the second night.
What she'll talk about: Gillibrand has been billed as the #MeToo senator, and sexual assault prevention is a huge part of her platform. At the debate she's likely to talk about her history of supporting survivors—starting in 2014, when she worked on the Campus Accountability and Safety Act to fight sexual assault on college campuses, as well as her efforts to combat sexual violence in the military. Gillibrand was also the first Democratic senator to ask now former senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) to step down after being accused of sexual misconduct, although she might not bring that particular decision up, as it was a controversial choice.
How they'll attack her: While Gillibrand's crusade against sexual misconduct is at the heart of her campaign, she's also come under scrutiny for how she handled a harassment claim in her office. Fellow debaters might be quick to call her a hypocrite and point to allegations from one of her female staffers. A mid-20s female aide recently claimed that an older married male staffer repeatedly made unwelcome advances toward her, according to Politico. Less than three weeks after reporting the harassment—and after the same man allegedly retaliated against her for doing so—she resigned and criticized the senator for not practicing what she preaches.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
When she'll appear: The first woman to be elected senator from Minnesota will take the stage on night one.
What she'll talk about: In our divided political times, Klobuchar stands out for her commitment to bipartisanship. Her campaign strategy has been to win back some Rust Belt voters who supported Trump, and she'll be sure to appeal to this demographic during the debate. In addition to highlighting her ability to work across the aisle, Klobuchar will focus on bipartisan concerns, like cybersecurity. In 2014 Klobuchar helped introduce the Honest Ads Act, which combats foreign interference in elections. Next she'll fight for net neutrality and making sure every American has access to the internet, including rural America.
How they'll attack her: Calling out Klobuchar's treatment of her staff will be a tough blow for the presidential hopeful. There's the comb incident, as well as the claims that her behavior "regularly left employees in tears." The facts don't lie: From 2011 to 2016, she had the highest staff turnover rate in the Senate, at 36 percent.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)
When she'll appear: The first Samoan American and the first Hindu member of the United States Congress will join the first night of debaters.
What she'll talk about: The Iraq War veteran will call upon her military experience in discussing her vision for the organization's future. Gabbard believes that the U.S. should be less involved in foreign conflicts—and would like to see fewer American troops deployed worldwide. In discussing foreign affairs, she might talk about her desire for the U.S. military to pull out of Afghanistan, and her opposition to a U.S. presence in Syria.
How they'll attack her: Gabbard has a very controversial relationship with Syria, which makes her an easy target. In 2017 she met with Syrian leader Bashar-al-Assad, and since has declined to call him a war criminal. She'll also come under fire for her track record on LGBTQ rights. In the early 2000s she worked for her father's antigay organization, which helped pass a measure against same-sex marriage in her home state, and promoted conversion therapy.
Marianne Williamson
When she'll appear: The New York Times best-selling author and self-help guru is set to debate during night two.
What she'll talk about: You can count on Williamson to talk about bringing a "moral and spiritual awakening" to American politics. Many of her speeches have focused on her belief that our political system has lost its heart and the need to find it once again. But she'll also talk about some of her policy proposals, like a cabinet-level Department of Childhood and Youth to promote education, as well fighting climate change. Williamson supports the Green New Deal and reentering the Paris climate agreement. In addition, she supports reparations for descendants of slaves and has been outspoken about this issue for years.
How they'll attack her: Chances are her opponents will focus on her lack of political experience. Williamson has never held office and had a failed run for Congress as an Independent in 2014. But with a political novice currently in the White House, we'll see if these criticisms stick.
Samantha Leach is an assistant editor at Glamour. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @_sleach.
