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Live fact-checking the sixth Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles

National
Dec. 19 debate spread
Democratic presidential candidates stand on stage before a Democratic presidential primary debate Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP)
Katie Sanders
By Katie Sanders
December 20, 2019

PolitiFact reporters and editors are live fact-checking Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate. Follow along with our coverage below.

Our Sources

See fact-checks.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Katie Sanders
Viral image
stated on July 15, 2021 in Facebook posts:
An image shows President Joe Biden touching Olivia Rodrigo’s shoulders during a White House press briefing.
Pants on Fire!
By Katie Sanders • July 16, 2021
Mitch McConnell
stated on September 18, 2020 in a statement:
On confirming a Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.
Full Flop
By Katie Sanders, Louis Jacobson • September 22, 2020
Instagram posts
stated on September 19, 2020 in a faked screenshot:
Says Ruth Bader Ginsburg tweeted, “I have information that will lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton.”
Pants on Fire!
By Katie Sanders • September 20, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on September 7, 2020 in a post:
Photo shows “some of the firefighters in California fighting fires 24/7 to save people’s lives and property.”
False
By Katie Sanders • September 13, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on September 11, 2020 in a post:
“KXL Radio in Portland reported today that Firefighters are now being shot at by suspected Antifa and BLM members.”
False
By Katie Sanders • September 13, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on February 1, 2020 in a post on Facebook:
Says the CEO of Camping World told Trump supporters “Frankly, don’t shop at my business.”
Mostly False
By Katie Sanders • February 29, 2020
Donald Trump
stated on June 18, 2017 in a tweet:
“The new Rasmussen Poll, one of the most accurate in the 2016 Election, just out with a Trump 50% Approval Rating. That’s higher than O’s #’s!”
Mostly False
By Katie Sanders, Louis Jacobson • June 19, 2017
Donald Trump
stated on June 4, 2017 in a tweet:
“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’ “
False
By Katie Sanders • June 4, 2017
Ivanka Trump
stated on May 1, 2017 in her new book:
Says John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
False
By Katie Sanders • May 5, 2017
Stephen Miller
stated on February 12, 2017 in an interview on ABC's "This Week":
“This issue of busing voters in to New Hampshire is widely known by anyone who’s worked in New Hampshire politics. It’s very real, it’s very serious.”
Pants on Fire!
By Katie Sanders • February 12, 2017
Sharon Day
stated on July 19, 2016 in a speech at the Republican convention:
As a senator, Hillary Clinton “paid women less than the men” in her office.
Mostly False
By Amy Sherman, Katie Sanders • July 20, 2016
Bernie Sanders
stated on January 19, 2016 in a town hall in Underwood, Iowa:
“I have a D-minus voting record from the NRA.”
Mostly True
By Katie Sanders • January 20, 2016
Marco Rubio
stated on October 22, 2015 in an op-ed in Breitbart:
“Even after Syrian troops began to shoot protesters in the streets with live ammunition in 2011, Clinton labeled Bashar al-Assad a ‘reformer.’ ”  
Half-True
By Amy Sherman, Katie Sanders • October 23, 2015
NowThis
stated on October 15, 2015 in a video shared on social media:
Says CNN deleted an online poll showing Bernie Sanders won the first Democratic presidential debate to help out Hillary Clinton.
Pants on Fire!
By Katie Sanders • October 19, 2015
X posts
stated on October 4, 2015 in tweets:
Says Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hats were made in China.
Pants on Fire!
By Katie Sanders • October 7, 2015

Live fact-checking the sixth Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles

Clear
X posts
stated on October 11, 2026 in posts:
Audio recording is proof James Talarico was discharged from a “mental hospital” on Oct. 10.
Pants on Fire!
By Loreben Tuquero • October 12, 2026
Amy Acton
stated on September 21, 2026 in a campaign ad:
Vivek Ramaswamy “pushed an Alzheimer’s drug that he knew didn’t work. He made hundreds of millions of dollars scamming people.”
Mostly False
By Cami Henry-Seymore • October 12, 2026
James Talarico
stated on October 6, 2026 in an ad:
Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton voted “to protect puppy abusers.”
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • October 12, 2026
Sherrod Brown
stated on September 18, 2026 in an ad:
Sen. Jon Husted voted “to kick 490,000 Ohioans off their healthcare.”
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • October 9, 2026
Angie Nixon
stated on October 4, 2026 in an Oct. 4 CBS Miami interview:
President Donald Trump has deported “over 13,000 Cubans since he has been in office, his first term and his second term.”
Mostly True
By Maria Briceño • October 9, 2026
Phil Berger
stated on October 7, 2026 in comments:
Suspending North Carolina’s gas tax
Full Flop
By Paul Specht • October 7, 2026
Zach Nunn
stated on September 8, 2026 in a social media post:
“We have cut the largest taxes in U.S. history.”
Mostly False
By Isabella Tisdale • October 7, 2026
Senate Leadership Fund
stated on September 22, 2026 in an ad:
Iowa U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Josh Turek “supports amnesty for illegals.”
Half-True
By Caleb McCullough • October 7, 2026
Markwayne Mullin
stated on October 1, 2026 in a speech at a rally in Oklahoma:
For President Donald Trump, “there’s no financial gain like the past presidents have had. It’s cost him to be in office.”
Pants on Fire!
By Louis Jacobson • October 5, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 4, 2026 in a Truth Social post:
Brazil’s quick election results are proof that places like Detroit, Philadelphia and California “take weeks to rig” their elections.
Pants on Fire!
By Amy Sherman • October 5, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on September 21, 2026 in an X post:
Roy Cooper was “in New York speaking at a New York Times ‘Climate Forward’ event” when Hurricane “Helene slammed into North Carolina.”
False
By Paul Specht • October 5, 2026
WinSenate
stated on September 25, 2026 in an ad:
Iowa Republican Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson voted against releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Mostly False
By Loreben Tuquero • October 2, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 1, 2026 in a Truth Social post:
“I stated, numerous times, that it would take 4-6 weeks to get rid of THE IRAN NUCLEAR THREAT, and I did it in one night!”
False
By Amy Sherman, Maria Briceño • October 2, 2026
TikTok posts
stated on September 28, 2026 in a post:
These videos show scenes of alleged sexual assault at Cornell University.
Pants on Fire!
By Jeff Cercone • October 1, 2026
Byron Donalds
stated on September 28, 2026 in an ad:
“Just months after” the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, David Jolly “was in Washington, pressuring Congress to expand drilling off the Florida coast, over $5 million in billings.”
Mostly False
By Samantha Putterman • October 1, 2026
Senate Leadership Fund
stated on September 16, 2026 in an ad:
Sherrod Brown supports “forcing childhood sex change surgery.”
False
By Louis Jacobson • October 1, 2026
John E. Sununu
stated on September 8, 2026 in his primary night victory speech:
“Chris Pappas voted to raise taxes 68 times. Every tax vote he’s made was to raise taxes.”
False
By Louis Jacobson • October 1, 2026
Mike Rogers
stated on September 24, 2026 in a TV interview:
Abdul El-Sayed “could not condemn the terrorist who tried to attack and kill 140 Jewish children right here in Michigan.”
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • October 1, 2026
Ashley Hinson
stated on September 2, 2026 in a social media post:
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek “skipped 58% of the votes at the Statehouse this year.”
True
By Anna Mitchell • September 30, 2026
Mike Rogers
stated on September 23, 2026 in an X post:
“Abdul El-Sayed supports defunding the police and emptying prisons.”
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • September 28, 2026
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