Arizona kicks off early voting for its pivotal Senate race between Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego, the only debate before the election to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Gallego, a veteran and five-term House member, is challenging Lake, a pro-Trump former newscaster. Gallego aligns himself with Vice President Kamala Harris, while Lake criticizes Democrats’ policies and touts endorsements from law enforcement. Gallego has tried to appeal to conservatives, including former McCain staffers, despite Lake’s attacks questioning his character and policies. Lake has been trailing Gallego in polls, claiming bias and citing internal polling that shows a closer race. Both candidates have differing views on issues like abortion, border security, and police accountability. Gallego supports gunning the filibuster to protect abortion rights, while Lake believes in upholding a 15-week abortion law in Arizona. The campaign has been marked by personal attacks, policy debates, and candidate efforts to appeal to a diverse electorate in a tightly contested race in a state that has been a battleground for election denialism.
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