Three Senate Democrats are calling on NBC News to have its first presidential debate focus exclusively on climate change.
Sens. Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzSenate panel votes to require Pentagon to rename bases named after Confederates Defense bill turns into proxy battle over Floyd protests Trump calls New York Times ‘fake newspaper’ after headline change MORE (Hawaii), Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseKey Democrat accuses Labor head of ‘misleading’ testimony on jobless benefits Sheldon Whitehouse leads Democrats into battle against Trump judiciary Bill aims to help farmers sell carbon credits MORE (R.I.) and Martin HeinrichMartin Trevor HeinrichWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Democratic senators kneel during moment of silence for George Floyd MORE (N.M.) said in a letter to NBC’s top brass that the 2016 debates improperly shortchanged a topic of high interest to Democratic voters.
ADVERTISEMENT“There are many ways to address the climate crisis, and voters want to know what policies each candidate supports,” the trio wrote in a letter to NBC News Chairman Andy Lack. “Voters deserve a vigorous debate with an informed moderator that can press candidates for detailed answers and hold them accountable.”
Environmental groups and several 2020 candidates have also called for a climate-centric debate. Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) joined that chorus last week, following a similar request from Washington Gov. Jay InsleeJay Robert InsleeInslee calls on Trump to ‘stay out of Washington state’s business’ Seattle mayor responds to Trump: ‘Go back to your bunker’ Trump warns he will take back Seattle from ‘ugly Anarchists’ if local leaders don’t act MORE (D).
The senators said in Thursday’s letter, first reported by the Daily Beast, that the 2016 debates devoted just five minutes to climate change, while recent polling shows the topic is of increasing concern to party voters.
“Democratic voters across the country have accepted the facts about climate change, are seeing its impacts, and are having real debates on solutions. In this consequential election year, it’s time for our candidates to do the same,” they wrote.
An April poll from CNN found that 82 percent of registered voters who identified as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents listed climate change as a “very important” top priority they would like to see as the focus of a presidential candidate.
The first 2020 Democratic primary debates are slated for the end of June.
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