PHOENIX — It's a highly contested race in the upcoming Arizona Primary Election, but Tuesday night's debate wasn't much of a debate.
Five out of six Republican candidates running for retiring Congresswoman Debbie Lesko's 8th Congressional District seat took part in another debate. Each candidate was asked about topics at the top of mind for voter's including Arizona's border, social security, and state elections.
Between Abe Hamadeh, Blake Masters, State Sen. Anthony Kern, State Speaker of the House Ben Toma and independent Pat Briody, one might have expected more of a clash.
There have been several attack ads on-air and online by candidates against their opponents. However, during the debate, none of that was brought up. In fact, many candidates agreed with each other on how they would solve the issues people are facing.
"I agree," — "Wholeheartedly agree with that point," — "You know, I agree," — all statements heard again and again as candidates were pressed about their stances.
All said they'd press for more border security, all claimed elections weren't secure (a huge point of contention after Donald Trump falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him), and many agreed social security should be uncut and tax free.
Sen. Kern went so far as to say, "As far as issues I don’t believe we have a whole lot of difference."
Hamadeh, the only candidate still contesting his loss in the 2022 election, thought otherwise. "There’s a reason why President Trump has endorsed me, there’s a reason why Kari Lake endorsed me," he said.
However, candidates differed on the topic of abortion. Each candidate said that they were against the medical procedure, but only Hamadeh said the matter of legality should be decided at the federal level.
The West Valley's solidly Republican 8th Congressional District that stretches from Phoenix, north to Lake Pleasant and New River. It takes in Peoria, parts of Glendale, and the senior living communities of Sun City and Sun City West.
The seat is being vacated by retiring Congresswoman Debbie Lesko of Peoria. Masters was the only candidate to decline interviews after the debate.
The six GOP primary candidates are:
- Former eight-term Congressman Trent Franks, who resigned his seat in 2017 amid an office scandal
- State Sen. Anthony Kern of Glendale, who is charged with nine felonies in the Arizona "fake electors" scheme after the 2020 presidential election
- Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma of Peoria
- Abe Hamadeh, who is the Donald Trump-endorsed candidate and also ran for Arizona Attorney General in 2022.
- Blake Masters, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022.
- Patrick "Pat" Briody, who is an independent contractor.
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