A similar controversy is occurring in the Arizona Senate race as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris argue over the parameters of their next presidential debate.
Rep. Ruben Gallego, the Democratic opponent of Kari Lake, the state’s Republican Senate candidate, has long been invited to participate in a debate. Gallego has already declared himself open to the debate, but Lake is demanding that it follow a different schedule.
At a press conference in Phoenix on March 15, a feisty Lake declared, “I’m prepared to argue with Ruben Gallego at this exact moment.”
She pointed off into the distance and said, “I’ll argue with him at that table immediately,” evoking laughter from the assembly. Anytime, I’ll debate him.
Gallego told NBC News that he is prepared for a debate more than four months after the Gallego-Lake contest was officially announced following each candidate’s victory in their respective primaries. However, Lake has shown to be pickier about who should set up the discussion.
The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, the state’s customary political debate organizer, asked Lake whether she would take part in a debate against Gallego on Tuesday, just hours before she secured the GOP nomination.
Lake remarked, “I believe we ought to discuss the argument we participate in,” following casting vote in the GOP primary at a Paradise Valley polling place.
She said, “I believe our two teams can talk about a fair setting and a fair platform to carry that out,” following her criticism of the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and her statement.
In 2022, the Republican candidate for governor Lake was opposed in an Arizona Clean Elections debate by Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs, who was the state secretary of state at the time. The commission invited Lake to participate in a 30-minute Q&A, but Hobbs rejected. Hobbs suggested that Arizona Clean Elections arrange separate town halls for her and Lake, but the commission turned down her proposal, citing the idea that it would deviate from the established debate format.
Hobbs maintained his opposition to the traditional debate suggested by Arizona Clean Elections, claiming that Lake would turn it into a “spectacle.” Due to her decision, the commission was able to arrange a 30-minute town hall for Lake on October 23, 2022, when Hobbs was away. After that, Hobbs took part in an independent Q&A session with Arizona PBS, which is not associated with Arizona Clean Elections.
The commission declared that Hobbs’ invitation to a town hall from Arizona PBS “surprised” them.
Arizona Clean Elections stated in advance of the competing town halls that “This decision is unfortunate, especially in light of the numerous attempts to arrange a conventional gubernatorial debate between the two candidates that were made possible by all the partners involved in organizing this year’s General Election debates,” adding that the announcement “broke from our shared practice.”
Lake remains bitter about the commission even after two years, even though it wasn’t involved in Hobbs’ Q&A in 2022. “How they handled individuals during the last election cycle in ’22 when those who chose not to participate in the debate—like Hobbs—were given their own thirty minutes,” was Lake’s main complaint, she noted.
She remarked, “You know, I don’t want to collaborate with such kinds of people.”
The executive director of Arizona Clean Elections claims that Hobbs’ Q&A was unrelated to the group, therefore Lake’s annoyance is unjustified.
In a response to NBC News, executive director Thomas Collins claimed, “The facts from 2022 are incorrect according to the Lake campaign.”
Collins stated in his letter that “In 2022, Clean Elections did not support a discussion or interview with Secretary Hobbs, who is currently Governor Hobbs.” The commission had severed its ties with Arizona PBS for the duration of the 2022 election cycle when Hobbs was invited for a Q&A.
Collins writes, “Together with our partners, we are excited to host the US Senate debate between Mrs. Lake and Mr. Gallego,” expressing optimism that the commission will still be able to support the matchup between Gallego and Lake.
When asked about Lake’s hesitation to take part in the Clean Elections discussion, Gallego brought up the debate’s past in Arizona.
Gallego stated this week that “Every Senate debate for the past three, I believe, has taken place at the Clean Elections debate.” Thus, I fail to see Kari Lake’s fear of reasoned discussion.
He mocked Lake for not accepting her defeat in the 2022 gubernatorial contest and accused her of “running away from tradition.”
“Traditionally, when you lose an election, you also give in. You do not file a request to overturn the election after waiting for two years. However, it seems that she is now at ease and wants to discontinue yet another custom, according to Gallego.
Additionally, Gallego told NBC News that he is not giving Hobbs’ concerns about Lake turning a debate into a “spectacle” any thought.
“It is important that we speak with Arizonan voters, and I have faith in their ability to hear both sides of the issue,” he stated.
Debates for Arizona Clean Elections usually take place in October, approximately one month before Election Day. Given Gallego’s propensity to become irrational when it comes to policy and Lake’s firebrand demeanor and penchant to go all out with fiery charges, a debate would be eagerly awaited.
However, the Lake and Gallego campaigns need to agree to the rules, which is the same exercise that the Trump and Harris camps are having trouble with before it can happen.