Sep 18, 2019

Amazon allows Alexa users to donate to 2020 presidential candidates

Photo: Grant Hindsley/AFP/Getty Images

Amazon announced Wednesday that Alexa users will be able to donate up to $200 to their preferred 2020 presidential candidate by using a voice command beginning next month.

Why it matters: It grants candidates a new, novel way to easily obtain contributions from their supporters. Fundraising is especially critical to standing out in the crowded Democratic field given the DNC's higher threshold to qualify for the debate stage.

Go deeper: Lower-tier 2020 candidates have highest share of small-dollar donations

Go deeper

Sara Fischer

Tech takes over political fundraising

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Small-dollar political donations have exploded this campaign cycle, thanks in large part to technology that makes it possible for candidates to target potential donors with cheap ads and easy-to-use online donation platforms.

Why it matters: A surge in fundraising for contributions under $200 has expanded the 2020 election field, propelling lesser-known candidates to the debate stage and political stardom.

Go deeperSep 20, 2019

Orion Rummler

All the qualifiers for November's Democratic debate

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The November Democratic primary debates, hosted by MSNBC and the Washington Post, are scheduled to take place in Georgia on Nov. 20. Ten presidential candidates qualified to appear on stage, leaving former HUD Secretary Julián Castro as the notable exception.

How it works: Each candidate needed to hit 3% in at least four accepted polls to qualify, or 5% in two single-state polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and/or Nevada. Candidate were also required to attract 165,000 unique donors and a minimum of 600 unique donors per state in at least 20 states.

Go deeperUpdated Nov 6, 2019

Axios

DNC raises qualifying criteria for November debates

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Democratic National Committee on Monday released the qualification criteria for the 5th round of presidential primary debates in November.

The big picture: The required thresholds for both polling and individual donations have again been raised from previous debates in an effort to whittle down the field.

Go deeperSep 23, 2019