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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
Social Media
stated on November 3, 2026 in social media posts:
More than 20,000 “fraudulent ballots” cast for Democrats were uncovered in an FBI raid of a warehouse in Houston.
Pants on Fire!
By Madison Czopek • November 3, 2026
X posts
stated on November 1, 2026 in post:
Footage of the Nov. 1 plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, “was 100%” generated with artificial intelligence.
Pants on Fire!
By Maria Briceño • November 2, 2026
Sarah Trone Garriott
stated on October 21, 2026 in a social media post:
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn “took thousands of dollars from Chinese companies.”
Half-True
By Shreya Reddy • October 30, 2026
Christina Bohannan
stated on October 7, 2026 in a Des Moines Register candidate Q&A:
President Donald Trump’s tariffs are “costing the average family $4,200 out of their pocket.”
Mostly False
By Anna Olson • October 30, 2026
Angie Nixon
stated on October 23, 2026 in an interview:
Florida U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody “is trading stocks and she’s gotten richer” by $2 million since entering Congress.
Mostly False
By Samantha Putterman • October 30, 2026
New Deal for All
stated on October 23, 2026 in an ad:
Florida U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody “cast the deciding vote to block the release of the Epstein files.”
Mostly False
By Samantha Putterman • October 28, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 12, 2026 in a rally in Youngstown, Ohio:
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton “is trying to double your state income tax.”
False
By Cami Henry-Seymore • October 27, 2026
Social Media
stated on October 20, 2026 in social media posts:
A woman’s account of a message displayed on a Cook County, Illinois, voting machine proves the election is “rigged.”
Pants on Fire!
By Loreben Tuquero • October 27, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 25, 2026 in a rally:
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is “a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member.”
Pants on Fire!
By Caleb McCullough • October 27, 2026
Josh Turek
stated on October 7, 2026 in a debate:
“We lead the nation in farm foreclosures now here in Iowa.”
Mostly False
By Riley Dunn • October 27, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 24, 2026 in a rally in Perry, Georgia:
For gasoline prices, “You’re still paying lower than (under) Biden and Obama.”
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • October 27, 2026
Chris Pappas
stated on October 13, 2026 in a debate:
New Hampshire U.S. Senate candidate John E. Sununu “cashed in” with “Big Pharma,” earning “up to $35 million.”
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • October 26, 2026
David Jolly
stated on October 20, 2026 in a speech:
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds “suggests there were good parts of Jim Crow.”
Half-True
By Samantha Putterman • October 26, 2026
Josh Stein
stated on October 20, 2026 in an X post:
In North Carolina, “thousands more absentee ballots (are) being rejected this election — at a rejection rate twice as high as in 2022.”
Mostly False
By Paul Specht • October 23, 2026
WinSenate
stated on October 19, 2026 in an ad:
“After just five years in Washington,” Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is “$8 million richer.”
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • October 23, 2026
X posts
stated on October 21, 2026 in X posts:
This video shows a former James Talarico student accusing him of misconduct.
Pants on Fire!
By Jeff Cercone • October 22, 2026
Club for Growth Action
stated on September 14, 2026 in an ad:
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor “repeatedly” violated “a law aimed at stopping members of Congress from insider trading.”
Mostly False
By Loreben Tuquero • October 22, 2026
Kelly Ayotte
stated on August 23, 2026 in an ad:
New Hampshire Democratic governor candidate Cinde Warmington “was a Purdue Pharma lobbyist. She said that OxyContin was a miracle drug.”
True
By Louis Jacobson • October 22, 2026
JD Vance
stated on October 17, 2026 in un foro con votantes de CBS News:
“La razón principal por la que los precios de la gasolina están tan altos es porque cuando Joe Biden era presidente, alrededor del 20% de la capacidad de refinación estadounidense dejó de operar”.
False
By Louis Jacobson • October 21, 2026
Roger Marshall
stated on October 16, 2026 in an interview with Sean Hannity:
Kansas U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton “wants to shut down the beef industry.”
False
By Amy Sherman • October 20, 2026
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