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Is there truth in political ads attacking Senate candidates Sinema and McSally?

Dissecting fact and fiction in attack ads against Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema as they compete to take Jeff Flake's seat in the US Senate.

PHOENIX — It's seven weeks until election night and the mudslinging from the different campaigns ads are in full force.

Both Congresswomen Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema have seen their fair share of attack ads as they compete to take Jeff Flake's seat in the US Senate.

Many of the attack ads against Sinema have centered on her activist past. One ad claimed she wanted to shutdown Luke Air Force Base, another claimed she protested troops serving in Iraq.

Both claims stem from Sinema in the early 2000's where she was farther to the ideological left than she is today.

In a 2002 candidate profile, Sinema did say she would not support keeping Luke Air Force Base open. Since entering Congress, however, she has continuously fought for funding for the airbase. Last week, Sinema voted in favor of legislation which would give Luke Air Force Base $40 million in fiscal year 2019.

Claims about Sinema protesting troops during the Iraq War have been found to be mostly false by Politifact. Sinema did lead anti-war protests, but there is no evidence linking Sinema directly with saying negative comments towards the troops.

The attacks against McSally have so far have centered on health care. One such ad said McSally voted for legislation which could hurt Arizonans with pre-existing conditions. The claim stems from McSally's vote on the "skinny repeal" of the Affordable Care Act last year, which was defeated when Sen. John McCain voted "no" in dramatic fashion last year.

Rep. McSally helped lead the fight to successfully pass this bill in the House of Representatives. McSally’s campaign said the AHCA replacement bill she voted for included language that protects people with pre-existing conditions. Rep. McSally co-sponsored an amendment to provide additional funding to help people with pre-existing conditions, and was successful in having it included in the AHCA replacement bill.

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