Lake and Green Party Candidate Unite to Demand Senate Debate Inclusion This October

By Matthew Holloway |

The upcoming U.S. Senate debate, organized by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, is generating considerable attention ahead of its scheduled date on October 9th. While Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego are confirmed participants, Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana has been omitted due to revised eligibility criteria. Lake has since taken a public stance advocating for Quintana’s inclusion, raising questions about Gallego’s position.

Quintana expressed his discontent in a post on X on August 23rd. He claimed, “If you are truly ‘non-partisan,’ you have a duty to the voters to include every qualified candidate!” He emphasized his legitimacy as a ballot-qualified candidate and asserted his right to participate alongside Lake and Gallego in the debate.

On Wednesday, Lake voiced her agreement with Quintana’s sentiments. In a statement from her campaign, she communicated that they had approached the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, proposing that all ballot-qualified candidates, including Quintana, be invited to the debate. Yet, the commission indicated that Gallego must also consent to this inclusion.

Lake stated, “The Green Party’s nominee for U.S. Senate Eduardo Quintana will be on the ballot in November. Therefore, we need to ensure that every candidate and every voter is heard and respected.” She urged Gallego to support Quintana’s participation, arguing that excluding third-party candidates undermines democratic values.

According to KJZZ, Chris Kline of the Arizona Media Association clarified the rules governing candidate eligibility for the debate. Each candidate must secure at least 1% of total primary votes, translating to roughly 12,400 votes for Senate candidates—far exceeding the 282 write-in votes that Quintana attained in the primary.

Kline also noted that whether Quintana would officially join the debate remains uncertain and that the decision rests heavily on discussions with the Gallego campaign. “We are trying to navigate where they are,” Kline explained, highlighting the Democrat’s pivotal role in the unfolding situation.

In a subsequent post, Quintana criticized the requirement for Gallego’s consent, asserting that his status as a qualified candidate entitles him to a spot on the debate stage. He labeled the commission’s actions as voter suppression and an “affront to democracy itself.”

Lake reiterated her call for inclusion during a conversation with KTAR’s Mike Broomhead, stating, “I think it’s not cool” that the Green Party candidate was initially excluded and advocating for equal representation among all candidates.

Quintana acknowledged Lake’s support, expressing gratitude for her efforts to secure his place in the debate despite their policy differences. “I applaud her for stepping up and demanding that all candidates be allowed to debate,” he wrote.

In a pointed remark, Lake also challenged Gallego and Vice President Kamala Harris, noting Quintana received more votes than Harris in the primary, questioning the legitimacy of their stance on his participation.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.