Several Democratic 2020 hopefuls are signing on to attend town halls hosted by Fox News, despite the Democratic National Committee barring the network from hosting a presidential debate this election cycle.
The big picture: The debate among Democrats over whether or how the party should engage with Fox News is sowing division within the party ahead of 2020. Many Democratic candidates have already appeared on several Fox News shows, hoping to reach some of its more moderate viewers. Sen. Bernie Sanders' April town hall drew an estimated audience of 2.5 million — double the viewership of his CNN town hall appearance.
Democrats who have agreed to town halls:
- Sen. Bernie Sanders: April 15
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar: May 8
- Mayor Pete Buttigieg: May 19
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: June 2
Democrats who have expressed willingness to appear:
- Julian Castro confirmed to AP that his campaign is in the process of scheduling a town hall with Fox News.
- Sen. Cory Booker also said he’s considering one.
- Beto O'Rourke told AP he would be willing to appear on the network.
Democrats who have refused to appear:
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who blasted the network as "a hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists."
