Democratic debate: CNN will hold live draw to determine each night's lineup

Dana Bash, Don Lemon and Jake Tapper will moderate the Democratic National Committee-sanctioned debates on two nights, July 30-31, from Detroit, said a network spokesperson. Both nights will air live exclusively on CNN and CNN and Español. The debates will also be simulcast on CNN International.

More than 20 Democratic candidates are for their party's presidential nomination, but pre-established qualifying rules only only 20 candidates, split across two nights, are eligible to participate. Candidates must either register 1% support in three qualified polls or have 65,000 unique donors to their campaign, with a minimum of 200 different donors per state in at least 20 states to qualify.

July debates will be announced by the DNC and CNN on the evening of July 17. The draw to determine placement will occur the next night.

As the race for the Democratic nomination tightens, the debate offers the presidential hopefuls a chance to make their case to a fixed national television audience and engage directly with their opponents.

Harris, who dominated the second night of the first debate and criticized Biden on race and school busing, is surging Both nationally and in Iowa, according to two post-debate polls.

Mueller's highly anticipated testimony comes as an increasing number of lawmakers, including some 2020 candidates are calling for an impeachment inquiry to begin with the President. Democracy is split on how to handle the issue, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing impeachment proceedings but an outspoken progressive bloc of the party calling for a stance to be taken against Trump.

The CNN debate brings the Democratic candidates to the battleground state of Michigan, which Trump won in 2016.

A total of 12 presidential primary debates are planned during the 2020 election cycle. Six debates will be held in 2019, and the other six will be held in 2020.