Harris, Biden to face off again as CNN, DNC pick second debate lineups

By Matthew Choi

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris are slated to take the stage and face each other anew on July 31, after CNN on Thursday selected the lineups for the second Democratic debate.

Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will appear on the first night of the debate, July 30.

The 20 candidates were divided into three tiers based on public polling and chosen live at random to balance out the two nights.

Harris and Biden clashed during the first Democratic debate over the former vice president’s past positions on racial issues, including opposition to federally mandated busing and working with segregationist senators. The pair stand next to each other during the debate.

Sen. Cory Booker will also be standing next to Biden onstage, possibly setting up another clash. Biden and Booker got into a verbal confrontation over the former vice president's comments on his interactions with segregationist senators.

On the first night of the debate, Sanders and Warren will take the center lecterns. Speaking to reporters Thursday in Iowa after the drawing, Warren said she was delighted by the results.

“Bernie and I have been friends for a long, long time. We’ve worked a lot of issues together,” Warren said.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will participate in the debate after failing to qualify for the first round of debates in late June. He replaces Rep. Eric Swalwell, who dropped out of the race last week.

CNN will broadcast the second debate live from Detroit.

Here is when all the candidates will take the stage:

July 30


Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, Gov. Steve Bullock, former Rep. John Delaney, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Tim Ryan and author Marianne Williamson.


July 31


Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker, former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Sen. Michael Bennet, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov. Jay Inslee.

The candidates were chosen from groups. The first group was composed of the 10 candidates averaging less than 1 percent across three qualifying polls. The second group included the six candidates averaging between 1 and 9.9 percent and the final four candidates made up the last group of those averaging 10 percent or more in the polls. Candidates had to secure at least 1 percent in at least one of the polls to be included, according to CNN.