What viewers really thought: Election Confessions from the first Democratic debate

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Tears were shed, minds were changed and impressions were made as millions of viewers tuned into the first Democratic presidential debate.

The viewers who took to NBC News' Election Confessions wrote close to 3,000 confessions, putting their inner voice on display. Some confessed that a candidate didn't quite meet their mark ("...Won't vote for her, but might donate to keep her around to speak more,"), others confessed to giving up on their previous pick ("He was my front-runner. Now I am thinking that ship has sailed.").

Of the Night One candidates, Elizabeth Warren received the most confessions. On Night Two, Joe Biden did. Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders also inspired viewers to write. John Hickenlooper received the fewest.

Here are some noteworthy confessions made on each of the Democratic candidates in the first 2020 presidential primary debate (want to see all the debate confessions? Scroll to the bottom). Candidates are listed alphabetically and grouped by debate night. Have a confession you want to make? Election Confessions runs through the 2020 election, so start writing your confession here.

Sen. Cory Booker

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro

Former Rep. John Delaney

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee

Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke

Rep. Tim Ryan

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Michael Bennet

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Sen. Kamala Harris

Gov. John Hickenlooper

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Rep. Eric Swalwell

Author Marianne Williamson

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang

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Election Confessions from the first Democratic debate

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Read NBC News' complete coverage of the first Democratic debates, see the full Election Confessions, read the Night Two debate live blog.