Headline RoundupOctober 8th, 2022

Senate Candidates Face Off in Debates Ahead of Midterm Elections

Summary from the AllSides News Team

In three tight races that could prove the deciding factor in which party controls the Senate after November’s midterm elections, rival candidates faced off in televised debates this past week; In Wisconsin, incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) and challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D); In North Carolina, U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R) and Cheri Beasley (D); In Arizona, incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D) and challenger Blake Masters (R). The most pressing issues across all the debates were abortion, inflation, and crime.

In Wisconsin, Sen. Johnson worked to depict Lt. Gov. Barnes as anti-police while refuting allegations of his involvement in the fake electors scheme highlighted by the Jan. 6 Committee. Lt. Gov. Barnes reiterated his pro-choice stance on abortion and accused Sen. Johnson of wanting to gut medicare and medicaid. FiveThirtyEight (Center Bias) currently forecasts Sen. Johnson winning with 51.4% of the vote.

In North Carolina, both candidates distanced themselves from national party leaders. On cannabis legalization, Beasley stated her approval for recreational legalization, while Rep. Budd voiced marginal support only for medical use. FiveThirtyEight (Center Bias) currently forecasts Rep. Budd winning with 50.5% of the vote.

In Arizona, inflation and border security were the hottest topics, with Sen. Kelly repeatedly refuting claims from Masters that he mishandled the border crisis and blindly followed President Biden’s agenda. FiveThirtyEight (Center Bias) currently forecasts Sen. Kelly winning with 51.7% of the vote. 

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