Gallego and Lake Go Head-to-Head in Heated Senate Debate, Sparring Over Immigration and Abortion

Republican candidate Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego faced off in a heated debate on Wednesday, each vying for the vacant U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Kyrsten Sinema. The two candidates exchanged barbs while trying to portray themselves as the most reasonable choice for Arizona voters.

Lake, a former news anchor with Donald Trump’s endorsement, claimed that Gallego had undergone an “extreme makeover” in his political posture. On the other hand, Gallego accused Lake of dishonesty, stating she had “failed the basic test of honesty.” The exchange included personal attacks; Lake referenced Gallego’s father’s criminal record while Gallego criticized Lake’s frequent engagements with Trump over border issues.

Discussion veered into their differing views on abortion. Lake suggested she had moderated her previous hardline stance, stating she would respect voters’ opinions on abortion rights if elected. Gallego promised to codify protections akin to those established by Roe v. Wade into federal law. He emphasized the importance of equitable healthcare access, criticizing the notion that a woman’s rights could vary based on her location.

On immigration, Lake positioned herself as a proponent of strict border security, asserting that undocumented immigrants were responsible for economic challenges in Arizona. However, her claims regarding undocumented numbers have been contested by experts, with a report estimating approximately 12.6 million undocumented individuals in the U.S. Gallego countered by challenging Lake’s resistance to bipartisan immigration reform, suggesting her stance was more about political leverage than genuine policy development.

Economically, Lake attributed inflation woes to the American Rescue Plan, a stance Gallego defended despite acknowledging some contribution to inflation. Gallego proposed increasing the minimum wage and blocking monopolistic mergers to lower consumer prices. These economic strategies highlight the contrasting approaches each candidate plans to implement if elected.

As the debate concluded, Lake opted not to engage with reporters directly, delegating questions to surrogates. This decision raised eyebrows among observers, with some interpreting it as indicative of her campaign approach.