{"id":2319530,"date":"2024-08-05T15:30:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T19:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kari-lake-and-ruben-gallego-spar-about-debate-host-for-key-senate-contest-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-05T15:31:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T19:31:36","slug":"kari-lake-and-ruben-gallego-spar-about-debate-host-for-key-senate-contest-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kari-lake-and-ruben-gallego-spar-about-debate-host-for-key-senate-contest-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego spar about debate host for key Senate contest &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkari-lake-and-ruben-gallego-spar-about-debate-host-for-key-senate-contest-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2319530&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Arizona&#8217;s Senate race, candidates Kari Lake, a former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fox-news-crashes-viewers-cut-in-half-in-3-weeks-cnn-beats-fox-in-daytime-viewers-msnbc-beats-fox-in-every-prime-time-slot-but-tucker\/\" title=\"FOX NEWS CRASHES! Viewers Cut in Half in 3 Weeks -- CNN Beats FOX in Daytime Viewers -- MSNBC Beats FOX in Every Prime-Time Slot but Tucker!\">news anchor<\/a> and Republican, and Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego\u200c are at \u200codds\u200c over\u200d the format and hosting of debates. Typically, political debates in Arizona are\u2064 organized by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, which Gallego has expressed \u2062willingness to work with. However, Lake has voiced skepticism about this organization and has suggested that both campaigns should negotiate a fair platform \u200dfor the debate. Lake&#8217;s mistrust stems from her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kari-lake-earned-six-figures-from-company-led-by-gop-chairman-she-helped-oust\/\" title=\"Kari Lake made big money from GOP chairman-led company she helped remove\">previous gubernatorial campaign<\/a>, in which \u2062her opponent, Governor Katie Hobbs, avoided a\u2062 debate, opting instead for a brief Q&#038;A session that was not sanctioned by the commission. Lake \u2063feels this prior approach was unfair \u2062and has criticized the commission&#8217;s handling of \u2062the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-are-openly-rooting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Democrats Are Openly Rooting for Donald Trump\">previous campaign<\/a>, though the commission has\u2063 stated it did not sponsor Hobbs&#8217; Q&#038;A session. As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-rallies-voters-in-iowa-ahead-of-caucuses\/\" title=\"Trump campaigns in Iowa before caucuses\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-red-wave-of-conservative-women-elected-to-congress\/\" title=\"The Red Wave of Conservative Women Elected to Congress\">election cycle<\/a> continues<\/a>, tensions regarding the debate structure remain high between the\u2062 two candidates.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego spar about debate host for key Senate contest<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1713869\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Arizona<\/a>&rsquo;s Senate candidates, news anchor-turned-Republican politician <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kari-lake\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kari Lake<\/a> and Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ruben-gallego\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Ruben Gallego<\/a> (D-AZ), have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3061707\/lake-skips-republican-senate-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>conflicting ideas<\/a> about how a debate should be run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Citizens Clean Elections Commission is the typical host of political <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/debates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>debates<\/a> in Arizona, but Lake has expressed some skepticism about taking that route. Gallego <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/arizona-senate-debate-kari-lake-ruben-gallego-rcna165086\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told<\/a> NBC News that he is prepared for a debate hosted by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think we should talk about which debate we do,&rdquo; Lake said last week. &ldquo;I think our two teams can discuss a fair place, a fair platform to do that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>When Lake ran for governor of Arizona in 2022, her opponent, now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), refused to debate Lake, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/11\/02\/politics\/katie-hobbs-debate-arizona-kari-lake-midterms-cnntv\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>claiming<\/a> Lake &ldquo;has shown that she&rsquo;s not interested in any kind of substantive conversation, she&rsquo;s only interested in creating a spectacle.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hobbs ended up participating in a 30-minute question-and-answer session on Arizona PBS, which upset the commission. Now, Lake is resentful toward the commission despite it not being involved with the PBS Q&amp;A, citing &ldquo;how they treated people in the last election cycle, back in &rsquo;22, where people who decided not to do the debate, namely Hobbs, ended up getting her own half an hour.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to work with people who are, you know, operating that way,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Lake campaign is mistaken about the facts from 2022,&rdquo; Executive Director of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission Thomas Collins said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Clean Elections did not sponsor any debate or interview with then-Secretary Hobbs (now Governor Hobbs) in 2022,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;We look forward to hosting the U.S. Senate debate between Mrs. Lake and Mr. Gallego with our partners.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This election cycle, Lake <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3061707\/lake-skips-republican-senate-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>refused to debate<\/a> her opponent, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, as the two raced for the Republican nomination in Arizona&rsquo;s primary election.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Traditionally, for the last, I think, three Senate races, every Senate debate has happened at the Clean Elections debate,&rdquo; Gallego said last week. &ldquo;So I don&rsquo;t understand why Kari Lake is afraid of even-grounded debate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Traditionally, you also concede after you lose an election. You don&rsquo;t wait until two years later and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3080397\/lake-asks-arizona-supreme-court-to-declare-her-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>file to overturn the election<\/a>. But I guess now she&rsquo;s comfortable and wants to get rid of another tradition,&rdquo; Gallego said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He said he would not back out of the debate like Hobbs. When Hobbs backed out, Lake was given the opportunity to use the scheduled debate as a town hall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The consideration is that we need to talk to the voters of Arizona, and I trust the voters of Arizona that they&rsquo;re going to listen to both sides,&rdquo; Gallego said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1713869\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1713869\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego are at odds over the hosting of debates for the crucial Senate race in Arizona. Lake, a former news anchor turned Republican candidate, has raised doubts about using the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, which usually organizes political debates in the state. In contrast, Gallego, a Democratic representative from Arizona, stated he is ready to participate in a debate hosted by this commission. &#8220;We should discuss which debate format we choose,&#8221; Lake remarked last week, suggesting that their teams could negotiate a suitable venue and platform.<\/p>\n<p>During her 2022 gubernatorial campaign against now-Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), Hobbs declined to debate Lake, arguing that she was more interested in creating drama than engaging in meaningful dialogue. Instead of debating, Hobbs participated in a 30-minute Q&amp;A session on Arizona PBS that frustrated the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. Despite this session not being organized by them, Lake has expressed resentment towards the commission due to how they handled situations during that election cycle.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Lake campaign is mistaken about the facts from 2022,&#8221; said Thomas Collins, Executive Director of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. He clarified that they did not sponsor any debates or interviews with then-Secretary Hobbs and expressed eagerness to host an upcoming Senate debate between Lake and Gallego.<\/p>\n<p>This election cycle has seen Lake decline to engage in debates with her opponent for the Republican nomination for Senate as well. Gallego pointed out that historically all recent Senate races have included debates organized by Clean Elections and questioned why Lake seems hesitant about participating fairly. He also noted that traditionally candidates concede after losing elections rather than attempting to overturn results years later.<\/p>\n<p>Gallego emphasized his commitment to engaging with voters directly: &#8220;We need to communicate with Arizonans; I trust they&#8217;ll consider both perspectives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2319531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Lake_Gallegos_1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[34059,33066,34667,37246],"class_list":["post-2319530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-election-2024","tag-kari-lake","tag-ruben-gallego","tag-senate-debate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Lake_Gallegos_1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2319530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2319531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2319530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2319530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2319530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}