Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Republican Sam Brown were locked in a close race in Thursday night's first and only debate, in one of the key battleground states on the 2024 map and sure to be a presidential candidate. He pitched to voters in the states he had to win. The Democratic Senate majority is hopeful.
Sen. Rosen, in his first term, has maintained a steady lead over the retired Army captain throughout the cycle, buoyed by favorable fundraising and spending positions since winning the June primary.
He lost the Republican nomination for the Senate two years ago and has repeatedly struggled to gain momentum in the race despite former President Donald Trump's strength in battleground states. Some Nevada Republican Party officials argue that his lack of familiarity with the state's issues, having moved to the state just six years ago, will cost him.
The debate also took place at a critical time. Early voting begins Saturday in Nevada.
Here are five takeaways from the Nevada Senate debate.
it's the economy
Nevada is widely considered to have one of the slowest economic recoveries after the coronavirus pandemic, and the state's economic status has become one of the biggest issues in the Senate race.
The hosts began the hour-long event with questions about how each candidate will help curb the fiscal crisis facing Nevada.
Incumbent Democratic lawmakers have criticized the potential merger of the state's two major grocery stores, Kroger's and Albertsons, saying it would only further increase food and commodity prices and cost the state jobs. insisted. She also laid the blame for Nevada at the feet of oil companies. Highest price per gallonHe said that's the case in every state, citing the ongoing housing shortage.
“Both the grocery chains and the oil giants are making record profits every quarter,” she says.
Brown tried to portray Rosen as out of line, claiming she didn't have an accurate grasp of the context of daily life in Nevada.
Nevada's unemployment rate is 5.5%, the highest of any state.
They also expressed support for eliminating taxes on worker tips. The policy change, originally announced by former President Trump and supported by Vice President Harris, will have a huge impact on states with strong hospitality and tourism industries.
“If you're receiving a tip, you shouldn't have to pay taxes on it,” Brown said. “People are in a desperate situation, and this is a policy that gives them the ability to hold on.”
Candidates outraged over abortion
The most lively part of the discussion centered on the future of reproductive rights, with Rosen seeking to connect Brown with many Republicans who are calling for a national abortion ban, which would limit abortions up to 24 weeks into pregnancy. This contrasts with state laws that protect the procedure.
Brown spoke three times within a few minutes, saying he opposes a national abortion ban, supports the state's current law, and supports exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. He also mentioned that his wife, Amy, had an abortion when she was young, which he said helps inform his opinion on the issue.
But Rosen still hit him on the topic.
“This is fundamentally about freedom and late pregnancy complications, which are tragic and horrifying and rare,” Rosen said. “The doctor's office, the hospital room, the emergency room, for women, for families, for doctors, is a place where politicians like Sam Brown or Mitch McConnell or anyone else can sit there and tell us what they can do and what they can do. It's too small a place to do it.”
“If you don't believe he supports a national abortion ban, I'll sell you a beachfront property on the Las Vegas Strip,” she added.
Despite his current position, Brown has faced criticism for his past support for Texas' abortion ban.
Abortion rights will be on the ballot in the state literally next month in the form of Question 6, which establishes abortion rights in the state constitution. Brown has expressed opposition to the ballot initiative.
brown tries to strike
The debate was the only meeting between the two candidates, and perhaps Brown's last chance to make a lasting impact on voters' minds.
He has repeatedly tried to fill the position by leveling criticism at Senate Democrats, trying to paint her as an elitist and Washington insider who doesn't understand the plight of Nevadans.
Brown tried to include those two phrases in his answers throughout the debate, including in response to questions about UFOs, Area 51, and whether Congress should investigate unidentified objects.
“But when you talk about secrets, this is the kind of secret that Nevadans want to know, and this is why Sen. Rosen has violated stock laws multiple times,” said Brown, who added that his net worth was 61. Tenure claimed to have increased by %.
Rosen made sure people were aware that he wasn't answering questions.
“Because it had nothing to do with UFOs,” she said, noting that his accusations were proven false.
Brown also attempted a similar attack during an immigration interaction, accusing Rosen of having more security at home than at the border.
Rosen sells moderation.
Incumbent Democrats used the extended exchange to pitch to centrist voters, repeatedly criticizing various bipartisan efforts in Congress by name and breaking with progressives in the Senate in the process.
Rosen cited, among other things, his support for a bipartisan border bill earlier this year, his vote for a national security supplement that would increase aid to Ukraine and Israel, and the support he secured from several Republican mayors in battleground states. . She called Brown “too extreme” and tried to create contrast.
Perhaps her most memorable statement came when she broke with many Senate Democrats and rejected calls for more Supreme Court seats.
“I do not agree with expanding the size of the Supreme Court,” she told the host. “I have no intention of adding more judges.”
The first-term senator also pointed to his position on Israel, calling out the Biden administration's call for the Israeli government to address the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip in the next 30 days or jeopardize future U.S. military aid. He said he did not agree with the latest ultimatum.
“I believe that we must get humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who need it. I believe that we must continue to negotiate for the hostages,” Rosen said. . “I don't support ultimatums. I believe we need to support Israel and its fight against terrorism.”
Bipartisan Questions on Mass Deportation
Former President Trump's pledge to carry out mass deportations if he wins in November was also questioned by both candidates during sparring on an extension section on immigration and the border.
Brown, who won President Trump's endorsement just before the primary, said he needed to address securing the border before tackling other immigration-related issues. But he acknowledged that Trump's plan would be complicated.
“This is a very large logistics operation,” Brown said when asked about the matter. “But what I can say is we're going to start by securing our borders. And we're going to deport these criminals, including the 13,000 people who have been convicted of murder and sexual assault. …We could start there, but that's a big undertaking.”
Rosen reiterated his support for bipartisan border policies launched by Republicans earlier this year and slammed the former president's plan to deport millions of illegal immigrants.
“How could that be?” Rosen said incredulously. “How many innocent people will be rounded up? We must think carefully about our actions and not use it as a political football.”
