The most recent Democratic primary debate, which featured only six candidates, had the biggest audience of all the debates this election cycle.
Wednesday’s debate, which was broadcast on MSNBC and NBC, had an average of 19.7 million television viewers, with 5.3 million in the key 25-54 age demographic, according to a press release from the network. The debate livestream also had 13.5 million live video streams for a total eclipsing more than 30 million people.
The large ratings come as a boost for the Democratic Party after a couple of low-watched debates in recent memory. The January debate had slightly more than 7 million viewers, approximately a third of Wednesday night’s debate audience.
The previously most-watched Democratic debate was the first one back in June. That debate, which took place over the course of two days with a total of 20 candidates on the stage, had slightly more than 15 million viewers, while the second night topped 18 million viewers. That one was also broadcast on NBC and MSNBC, with the added bonus of Telemundo as well.
The record number of viewers for a presidential debate was set during the 2016 election cycle by the first Republican primary debate, hosted by Fox News, which drew 24 million viewers.
Wednesday night’s debate featured only six candidates: Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It was Bloomberg’s first time on the debate stage after the Democratic National Committee changed their qualification requirements, which benefited the former mayor.
