Kari Lake highlights Ruben Gallegos progressive record in Arizona Senate debate as early voting begins
PHOENIX — Arizona Senate candidates Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Rep.Ruben Gallego faced off in their first and only debate this cycle as early voting started Wednesday, trading zingers on one another’s records.
“You’ve been to Mar-a-Lago more than you’ve been to the border,” Gallego said of Lake, who’s considered a close ally of former President Donald Trump.He also asked Lake if she accepted the results of her 2022 gubernatorial loss, which the Republican deflected to address the climate change question posed by the moderators.Lake also called out Gallego’s shift to the center early on in the debate, and mentioning his previous co-chairmanship of the Progressive Caucus in the House.
“Tonight, we’re going to watch as somebody tries to reinvent himself,” she said of her opponent, who is no longer in the Progressive Caucus as he seeks office in the Senate.Lake also said “sold us out to Ukraine” with spending instead of focusing on the border.Outside of these fiery exchanges, much of the debate highlighted border security and immigration — a top issue among voters in the Grand Canyon State.“Murderers have come in, criminals have come in, and terrorists have come in,” Lake said, referring to a report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement that revealed 13,000 convicted murderers were released into the country after crossing the border.
That number isn’t exclusive to those who entered under Biden’s administration, though the report does show a significant increase in the last four years.Lake also expressed support for Trump’s plan to resume wall construction and the plan to deport those who have entered the country illegally under the Biden-Harris administration.Gallego expressed his support for the congressional border bill touted by Democrats and a small number of Republicans, which he argued would have helped thwart fentanyl trafficking and improve some immigration laws.“From day one, I’ve worked in a bipartisan...