PHOENIX — Kari Lake, a Republican candidate for the Senate, focused on her extensive experience in Arizona television during her recent debate against Democrat Ruben Gallego. Her strategy aimed to capitalize on the personal rapport established with viewers to counter Gallego’s portrayal of her as deceptive. The debate served as a crucial platform for both candidates amidst a tightly contested race.
Lake’s established poise in front of the camera contrasted with Gallego’s delivery, which was occasionally shaky. The one-hour debate touched on significant topics, including immigration, border security, abortion, and tax policy, and at times veered into a more confrontational tone.
“Arizona, it’s fantastic to be back, where our journey began,” Lake opened, emphasizing her local roots. She accused Gallego of adopting a misleading persona to mask his progressive credentials and linked him to the ongoing chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border. Gallego countered her accusations by labeling her a liar, citing her debunked claims regarding the 2022 gubernatorial election results.
“She will do anything and say anything to gain power, including lying,” Gallego asserted.
Kari Lake gained favor among the populist right after her stint as a local news anchor but has faced challenges in reshaping her image since her gubernatorial defeat in 2022. Meanwhile, Gallego leveraged his financial edge to run ads highlighting his military background and personal story, while opting to sidestep the progressive aspects of his congressional record. The debate, broadcast live across the state, enabled Lake to attempt a revitalization in a race where she appears to be slightly behind in polls. For Gallego, it allowed him to make himself known to undecided voters.
The first segment of the debate focused mainly on immigration and border security, issues that Lake has prominently featured in her campaign. She criticized Gallego’s previous statements on border wall opposition and associated him with President Biden’s border strategies, asserting he supported “open borders” and had consistently voted against border security measures.
“Your votes on the border have empowered the cartels,” she said, categorizing illegal crossings as an “invasion.” In response, Gallego acknowledged the necessity of secure borders, emphasizing that a wall must be supported by adequate personnel and technology. He also criticized Lake for rejecting a bipartisan border security agreement that fell through after former President Trump rallied Republicans against it, stating, “You’ve been to Mar-a-Lago more than you’ve been to the border.”
Lake pressed Gallego to endorse the deportation of all undocumented immigrants, while he urged her to consider a stance against deporting “dreamers,” which did not result in consensus from either party.
The Arizona Senate race is pivotal, impacting which party will hold sway in the U.S. Senate, especially as Democrats strive to maintain their narrow majority. The victor will succeed independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who shifted away from the Democratic Party following mounting tensions with its core supporters.
Both candidates are vying for support from a small contingent of Republicans and conservative independents who could split their votes. This demographic has played a vital role in the Democrats’ ascent in Arizona, a state that has evolved from a Republican stronghold into a competitive playing field within the last decade.
Lake and Gallego worked to steer voters’ attention to the issues where they feel most confident. For Lake, that issue remains immigration, while Gallego focuses on abortion rights following a state Supreme Court ruling that significantly restricted abortion access, which was later lessened to after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Lake, conversely, has shown support for tighter abortion regulations.
“Do we want politicians like Kari Lake making these intricate and personal decisions that should rest with women and their families?” Gallego questioned, highlighting Lake’s previous remarks regarding her satisfaction with the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Lake clarified her position, stating she would not support a federal ban on abortion, pointing instead to an upcoming ballot initiative for Arizona voters. “It’s up to us as Arizonans to determine our abortion laws,” she asserted.
A staunch ally of Trump, Lake perpetuates the narrative that he lost the 2020 election due to fraud. She has yet to concede defeat from her own gubernatorial race in 2022 and continues to legally challenge the electoral outcome even as she pursues her Senate candidacy. Additionally, she sought to highlight Gallego’s 2016 divorce from Kate Gallego, currently the Phoenix mayor, suggesting he abandoned her during pregnancy. Nonetheless, Kate has publicly supported her former husband, appearing alongside him in recent campaign events.
Gallego, whose immigrant parents hailed from Mexico and Colombia, faced childhood adversity in Chicago, raised by a single mother. Having been accepted into Harvard University, he later served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, participating in the Iraq War. Throughout the debate, he underscored his military service as a testament to his character and commitment to public service.
