Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Republican candidate Kari Lake confronted off of their solely debate within the Arizona Senate race on Wednesday, as the 2 contenders steadily traded barbs.
Gallego and Lake, who’re vying for retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s (I-Ariz.) seat, participated in a debate hosted by Arizona Residents Clear Elections Fee and Arizona Media Affiliation. Whereas immigration and the border have been a transparent focus, the 2 provided their takes on different key points just like the economic system, inflation and abortion.
The controversy comes at a pivotal time for each candidates lower than a month out from Election Day, as Arizona will play a key position in who takes management of the White Home and Senate majority.
Although an combination of Arizona surveys compiled by Resolution Desk HQ reveals a tighter race on the presidential stage — with Trump at 49 p.c whereas Harris is at 48 p.c — DDHQ’s combination of Arizona Senate polls reveals Gallego having fun with a wider lead towards Lake, 50 p.c to 42 p.c.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the Arizona Senate debate:
Debate shortly turns feisty
The controversy grew private shortly as each candidates lobbed assaults at one another throughout the first jiffy.
Gallego in his opening remarks talked about his biography serving in Iraq, saying he discovered “that in war, there are no Democrats, no Republicans — just young men and women trying to live one more day and be better Americans,” earlier than moments later attacking Lake.
“By contrast, we’re going to see and talk to somebody who has really failed the basic test of honesty. She has lied to Arizonans about the 2022 election. She has said that she still is the rightful governor of Arizona,” Gallego mentioned, referring to Lake’s refusal to concede her 2022 loss when she ran for Arizona governor.
Lake used her opening assertion to go after Gallego, too, accusing him of getting “undergone an extreme makeover” politically.
“We’re going to watch as somebody tries to reinvent himself, somebody who used to be a member of the Progressive Caucus, somebody who has destroyed the very congressional district that he has served for the past 10 years where homelessness is on the rise,” Lake mentioned, noting Gallego’s previous membership with the Home Progressive Caucus.
Border, immigration take heart stage
Immigration was a transparent focus of the night time, with roughly 20 minutes of the controversy delving into associated points.
Lake attacked Gallego over the subject, referencing remarks he made in 2017, for instance, wherein he known as Trump’s border wall “stupid” and “dumb.” She additionally sought to tie Gallego to President Biden and Vice President Harris over the difficulty, whereas aligning herself carefully to Trump.
“We need somebody who understands the threat on the border, and I do, and President Trump does, and on day one we’re going to get busy undoing the damage caused by Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and Ruben Gallego, who’s voted with them 100 percent of the time,” Lake mentioned.
In the meantime, Gallego sought to place himself as an issue solver, saying he had championed efforts in Congress to sort out the difficulty whereas criticizing Lake for opposing the bipartisan border invoice.
He additionally notably pressed Lake a number of occasions on whether or not she was in favor of deporting “Dreamers,” individuals who arrived into the nation undocumented as kids and who’ve since lived within the U.S.
“Will you deport Dreamers? Just be honest — yes or no,” Gallego pressed Lake, who replied, “No.”
“President Trump wanted to make a deal when it came to Dreamers. You said no,” she mentioned. “Unfortunately, the radical Democrats, like my opponent, would rather use people as political pawns. I want to secure the border.”
Lake ties Gallego to Biden, Harris
Lake sought to tie Gallego to Biden and Harris, saying he had voted with the present administration 100% of the time. Harris and Trump are largely polling neck and neck within the state.
“He’s voted with Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. Arizona, you gotta know this,” Lake mentioned.
“He’s voted with Kamala Harris and Joe Biden 100 percent of the time. He wants to act like he’s bipartisan. He was the leader of the Progressive Caucus.”
Gallego has been pressed about his extra reasonable political stance within the Senate race, given he’s beforehand touted himself as a progressive and was a member of the Home Progressive Caucus.
The Arizona Democrat defined to NBC Information in April that he had let his caucus membership expire as a result of they “actually increased their dues tremendously, and that comes out of my staff pay, and so, you know, we have to make decisions,” whereas additionally acknowledging the political terrain of his state.
In the meantime, Gallego largely made no point out of Harris throughout his remarks and infrequently introduced up Trump. As a substitute, Gallego leaned on his expertise in Congress whereas making his case to voters.
“We’ve passed legislation that mandates that our government negotiates the prices of prescription drugs. We’ve capped insulin at $35. Next year’s seniors, they’re going to have their prescription drugs capped at a total of $2,000,” Gallego mentioned at one level in a response about how he would make life extra reasonably priced.
Gallego targets Lake over election, abortion stances
Gallego used the controversy to take jabs at Lake over her earlier remarks on previous election outcomes and her stance on abortion. Lake gained nationwide consideration for disputing the 2020 election outcomes whereas operating for Arizona governor in 2022. Lake has refused to concede her 2022 loss.
Gallego talked about at one level that Lake was “in denial” about local weather change, including later she was additionally in denial concerning the 2022 election.
“Now I give you one minute. Will you finally tell the people of Arizona, did you win or lose that election?” Gallego requested Lake.
“Can I talk about water really quickly?” she responded, throughout a portion of the controversy that centered on vitality and water provide.
The Arizona congressman additionally attacked Lake for beforehand praising a 1864 legislation that has since been repealed that will have jailed medical doctors who carried out abortions.
“Do we want politicians like Kari Lake to be involved in these very, very difficult decisions when they should be left to the woman, the doctor and the family?” Gallego mentioned.
Lake maintained that abortion entry ought to be left to the states and mentioned she wouldn’t assist federal laws limiting abortion entry. She urged girls have been having abortions as a result of they couldn’t financially shoulder the prices of getting kids.
“I don’t want any woman out there to make that choice because she can’t afford to live because of the votes that people like Ruben Gallego have made that have made our economy practically collapse,” she mentioned. “It’s on life support right now. So I want to go to the U.S. Senate and pass the most pro-family legislation.”
Candidates’ final alternative to make their pitch
The controversy provided Arizona voters a uncommon alternative to see each candidates on the stage as they sought to supply contrasting visions of their campaigns.
The controversy between Gallego and Lake was a departure from 2022, when Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) declined alternatives to debate Lake through the Arizona governor’s race, although Hobbs narrowly prevailed in that election.
The controversy additionally coincided with the beginning of early voting in Arizona, as ballots started to be mailed out on Wednesday.
Total, Wednesday night time’s occasion was maybe Lake and Gallego’s final alternative to make their pitch to voters, with lower than 30 days till Election Day.
