4 reasons there are more than 20 Democratic candidates for president

More than 20 candidates have entered the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.The increasing number of candidates reflects changes in the political environment and the US party system — changes that are here to stay, according to Hans J.G. Hassell.Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.Seven Democratic presidential candidates gathered on national television early in the 1988 campaign to debate each other.The field of candidates, derided by Republicans as the “Seven Dwarfs,” pales in comparison to the 24 Democratic candidates who have — at last count — declared their candidacy for president.The seven Democrats on the stage in 1988 represented an unprecedented number of candidates vying in a presidential primary. Now, 17 of the 24 declared Democratic presidential candidates have currently met the standards set by the Democratic National Committee to qualify for participation in this election cycle's debates.And in 2016 the GOP used two debate stages to accommodate the 17 declared candidates.I study political parties and their role in electoral politics. And I believe the rise in the number of presidential candidates in recent years results from divisions within the party coalitions and from easier access to vital campaign resources — money and media — that were not present in previous election cycles.