TL/DR –
During a recent U.S. Senate debate in Phoenix, Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego faced off, with both candidates noted for their extreme views in the past. Gallego, once a profane and left-wing leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has since dropped out of the caucus and cleaned up his language, while Lake, a staunch Trump supporter, has not changed her approach. During the debate, Gallego portrayed Lake as dangerous, dishonest, and unhinged, while Lake, who frequently interrupted Gallego and the moderators, used the event to criticize Gallego’s past and his father’s history as a convicted drug dealer.
Arizona U.S. Senate Debate: Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego’s Abortion Face-Off
At the U.S. Senate debate in Phoenix, Kari Lake initially presented a poised and eloquent front but didn’t sustain it throughout the debate.
Gallego: From Profane and Left-Wing to Chameleon
Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego was a leading member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, known for his incendiary social media posts. His bold and unabashedly left-wing approach was a hit in his congressional district, where he often won elections by large margins.
However, in recent times, Gallego has distanced himself from the progressive caucus and has adopted a more bipartisan approach, much like U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Notably, he has also cleaned up his language.
Could a Different Republican Candidate Be Winning?
In a different scenario, Gallego might have had a tougher time against more traditional Republicans in Arizona. However, his opponent, Kari Lake, has shown unstable behaviour, including claiming victory in a governor’s race she clearly lost.
Gallego Grows Up; Lake Stays the Same
The Phoenix debate highlighted the stark differences between the two candidates. While Gallego showed significant growth and maturity over the past two years, Lake remained an unreformed extremist. If Lake had been able to maintain her initial composure throughout the debate, she might have won and been in a better position for the Nov. 5 election.
Gallego Paints Lake as Unhinged
During the debate, Gallego made a compelling case that Lake is a dangerous and dishonest candidate. He highlighted Lake’s denial of the 2022 and 2020 election results and her shifting positions on abortion, questioning her trustworthiness.
Lake Breaks Rules and Decorum
Lake repeatedly interrupted Gallego and the moderators, violating the rules of the debate. This behaviour demonstrated a lack of respect for others and a disregard for rules, which could have serious implications for her candidacy.
Gallego Highlights His Transformation
Gallego used the debate to highlight his transformation from a controversial backbench bomb-thrower to a mature politician willing to work with all sides. His military background and achievements underscore this change, demonstrating that he is much more than the sum of his controversial tweets.
One Senate Candidate Is Unstable
The debate was light on substance and policy but focused on a critical element in the race: one of the two candidates is unstable. Lake’s disruptive behaviour during the debate reinforced this point more effectively than any argument Gallego could make.
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