Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake square off in sharp-edged Arizona Senate debate
The lone Arizona Senate debate between Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake highlighted national partisan divides on the border, abortion policy and more.
PHOENIX — Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego faced off in Arizona’s feisty first and only Senate debate Wednesday evening, trading shots over the border, abortion, tax policy and more.
The barbs started before the moderators even asked a single question.
“We are at a crossroads, Arizona,” Gallego said in his opening statement, highlighting Lake’s repeated election denialism. “We’re going to see and talk to somebody who has really failed the basic test of honesty.”
Lake shot back: “Tonight, 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.”
As the candidates bounced from topic to topic over an hour onstage, the answers circled back on a key slice of voters: old-line Republicans and independents who aren’t necessarily comfortable with Lake. Gallego continually referred to his support from prominent Arizona Republicans, while Lake repeatedly brought up former President Donald Trump as she tries to prevent Trump voters from crossing over in the Senate race.
Rating: 5