WASHINGTON – Detroit will play host to the second televised debate among a crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates in late July, the Free Press has learned.

The Democratic National Committee told the Free Press on Tuesday that the debate — which could include as many as 20 candidates vying to take on President Donald Trump next year —- will be held over two nights, July 30 and 31, if both nights are deemed necessary as expected.

The lineup of candidates for each night will be determined at random. Most national polls have former Vice President Joe Biden — who hasn't announced that he's running — with an edge over a large field that includes U.S. Sen.Bernie Sanders of Vermont, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas, among many others.

"Detroit embodies the values and character of the Democratic Party," said DNC Chairman Tom Perez. "It's a city of grit and determination, a city that has gotten knocked down, only to get back up stronger. ... Detroit is the perfect place for our party's second debate."

Here's what else we know about the debate:

Specific details about the venue, timing, moderators and public access are expected to come later.

CNN is the party's partner for the debate and will air it live and online.

It will follow the Democrats' first debate in Miami, June 26-27, and be one of 12 Democratic nomination debates to be held over the course of the 2020 nomination cycle.

The Democratic National Party will spread the debate over two nights if necessary in order to ensure that viewers hear from the greatest number of candidates.

How candidates will qualify for the debate

The field of candidates debating will be limited to 20 but it could be less than that:

In order to qualify, a candidate will need at least 1% or more support in three separate polls either nationally or in one or more of the first four states to hold caucuses or primaries next year: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

A candidate can also qualify by demonstrating that he or she has received donations from at least 65,000 separate donors with a minimum of 200 donors in each of at least 20 states.

If more than 20 candidates qualify for the debate through either method, the field will be narrowed to that number by determining who meets both thresholds, followed by those with the highest polling averages.

Besides those mentioned above, the announced Democratic field also currently includes U.S. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; former U.S. Rep. John Delaney of Maryland; Washington Gov. Jay Inslee; former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro; Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend., Ind.; Mayor Wayne Messam of Miramar, Fla.; author Marianne Williamson; and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

A dozen or more candidates currently would meet the criteria, according to a RealClearPolitics.com list of poll results.

Michigan, which will hold its presidential primary elections on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, is expected to be a key battleground in next year's election. In the 2016 race, Trump became the first Republican to win the state since George H.W. Bush in 1988, defeating Hillary Clinton by less than 1% of the vote. It was one of three states — along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — that flipped to give Trump the presidency.

Read more:

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Contact Todd Spangler:tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. Read more onMichigan politics and sign up for ourelections newsletter.