At 9:00 EST Monday night, Andrew Yang crossed a critical threshold. For the last few months, he has made waves in the American political landscape. Most notably, he has advocated for a Universal Basic Income (paying every American adult a check of $1,000 a month). Many notable figures across the political spectrum, including free-market economist Milton Friedman, have voiced support for this idea. Today, it shows. Yang just crossed the mark of 65,000 individual campaign donors and will make the first Democratic presidential debate.

Andrew Yang Makes the Debate

Yang announced his milestone over Instagram on Monday evening. The 44-year-old entrepreneur from New York is one of many that will fill a crowded stage at the debate. The DNC has limited the debate to 20 individuals who meet the fundraising threshold of 65,000 individual donations across 20 states. Andrew Yang is not the first to do so, nor is he the last.

The DNC has received a historical influx of candidates for the 2020 presidential elections. Each is running on widely varied platforms concerning everything from the environment to women’s rights and income inequality.

A Crowded Field

Yang is likely to face off against big names like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, and several others are also likely to attend the debate. NBC has agreed to host it this coming June. It will also air on MSNBC and Telemundo.

Andrew Yang has become popular with voters who favored Sanders in the 2016 election. Due to the crowded nature of the 2020 primary, it is unclear whether or not he will gain major traction. Regardless, it appears that Yang will, from his place on the debate stage, bring the Universal Basic Income into American political discussion.

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