In AZ Senate debate, Kelly and Masters trade barbs over immigration, abortion. We fact-checked them

Arizona offers Republicans a chance to pick up a Senate seat and win control of the chamber. Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly leads Republican Blake Masters in the polls, but Masters is within striking range.

In an Oct. 6 debate, the two candidates, plus Libertarian Marc Victor, highlighted their differences on abortion and immigration. This is well-traveled ground for both Kelly and Masters.

The one surprise of the evening came when Masters dialed back his past claims of fraud in the 2020 election. In June, he told voters, "Whatever their cheating capacity is, I’m pretty sure they pulled out all the stops." Masters secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and went on to win his primary.

During the debate, when asked whetherJoe Biden was the legitimately elected president, Masters first blamed Biden’s win on suppression of news coverage of Hunter Biden, the president’s son. Debate moderator Ted Simmons of PBS Arizona, pressed further.