All The Key Moments From The Second Democratic Presidential Debate, Night 2

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Welcome to night two of the second Democratic presidential debate on July 31! Tonight, 10 candidates will take the stage in the second of 12 Democratic primary debates: Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, Gov. Jay Inslee, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Andrew Yang, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Sen. Michael Bennet.

Stay tuned to see if Harris and Biden will face off like they did last time. Follow along with our key moments from the Democratic debate night two, ahead.

Joe Biden & Kamala Harris, Round 2?

Former Vice President Joe Biden was the first candidate to take the stage Wednesday. When he was joined by California Sen. Kamala Harris, the former Veep told her: "Go easy on me, kid!" Harris, who is 54, duked it out with Biden on the first debate over his past opposition to the practice of busing.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand stands out in a hot pink (magenta? poppy red?) dress

Cory Booker is interrupted by “Fire Pantaleo” chanting

During Cory Booker’s opening statement, protesters in the theater were overheard chanting "fire Pantaleo," in reference to the Staten Island officer who was involved in the death of Eric Garner, a Black civilian, during an arrest in 2014. The shouts were likely aimed at New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been criticized for campaigning for the presidency while issues persist in his city.

Five years after Garner’s death, the Department of Justice declined to charge Pantaleo with federal charges, and the officer is still employed by the New York Police Department. Activists, including Garner’s family, have called for the firing of the officer.

…And doesn’t miss a beat.

Julián Castro is the only candidate to mention Puerto Rico so far.

The former secretary of Housing and Urban Development is the only Democratic candidate so far that has brought attention to the situation in Puerto Rico. After two weeks of intense protests over a corruption scandal, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, a Democrat, resigned. He is set to step down on Friday. "We were reminded and inspired by our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico that public service isn’t about any of us, it’s about you and your family," Castro said.

Joe Biden & Kamala Harris face of on Medicare for All in another contentious moment.

"The reality is that our plan will bring health care to all Americans under a Medicare for All system," said Harris. "Under our plan, we will ensure that everyone has access to health care. Your plan, by contrast, leaves out almost 10 million Americans. So I think that you should really think about what you’re saying, but be reflective and understand that the people of America want access to health care and do not want cost to be their barrier to getting it. "

Biden responded that it will cost $3 trillion and cause middle-class taxes to go up.

Kirsten Gillibrand makes an impassioned statement on healthcare with a personal story.

"When I was a young mother and had Theo as an infant, he had an allergic reaction to eggs and his whole body turned red and puffy. I had to rush him to the emergency room. My heart is palpitating because I’m worried that his throat will close. I am not worried about not having an insurance card or a credit card in my wallet. I know whatever they’re going to prescribe, whether it’s an EpiPen or an inhaler, I can afford it.

"The truth about health care in America today is people can’t afford it. They cannot afford — and the insurance companies for these plans that rely on insurance companies, I’m sorry, they’re for-profit companies. They have an obligation to their shareholders. They pay their CEO millions of dollars. They have to have quarterly profits. … Let’s not forget what the Republicans are doing, because the truth is, the Republicans and Trump, their whole goal is to take away your health care."

Cory Booker said "shithole" on TV.

Talking about immigration policy, Booker shocked viewers by cursing on stage, saying that we can’t "pit immigrants" against one another and using President Trump’s language by referring to "shithole countries."

"You’re dipping into the Kool-aid, and you don’t even know the flavor" – Booker to Biden

Tulsi Gabbard came after Kamala Harris’ record as a career prosecutor.

"[Harris] put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana," Gabbard said, referring to the time Harris went on The Breakfast Club radio show and admitted to smoking weed herself.

"The first thing I’m going to do as president is Clorox the Oval Office." – Kirsten Gillibrand

Sen. Gillibrand makes a joke at the start of her response about the Green New Deal, which she has co-sponsored. To be fair, Clorox might not be the most environmentally-friendly cleaning product.

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Source: Refinery29 – Andrea González-Ramírez

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