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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From the Left
Johnson, Barnes polished in 1st Wisconsin Senate debateRepublican Sen. Ron Johnson and his Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes stuck to their scripts — and their time limits — as they met for a debate Friday evening in a hotly contested race that could determine party control of the U.S. Senate.
In battleground Wisconsin, it was a welcome chance for both candidates to clarify their positions on a variety of issues, and though they disagreed on most subjects, their comments were similar to those they’ve made on the campaign trail. Here are the key takeaways:
THE ECONOMY...
From the Center
Five takeaways from the North Carolina Senate debateNorth Carolina’s Senate race has emerged as perhaps the year’s most quiet toss-up contest.
But both parties are taking the race — one of a handful that could decide control of the upper chamber — seriously. Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd met for the first time on Friday night to debate a laundry list of issues that are playing out in key races across the country.
Here are five takeaways from their debate:
From the Right
Arizona Senate race debate: Democrat Mark Kelly, Republican Blake Masters clash over immigration, abortionArizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican challenger Blake Masters took to the debate stage in Phoenix Thursday evening, where the two clashed over President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S. economy, border security, and reproductive rights.
The candidates opened the debate by highlighting how high inflation has crippled consumer spending across the country. Masters specifically shared a story of how some parents are having to forgo meals so they can better afford to feed their children.
"This crushing inflation is ruining people's lives," Masters told debate moderator Ted Simons....
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