The debate over Arizona’s Senate debate

PHOENIX — As erstwhile President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris squabble complete nan position of their coming statesmanlike debate, a akin conflict is taking spot successful nan Arizona Senate race.

The state’s GOP Senate candidate, Kari Lake, has agelong challenged her Democratic competitor, Rep. Ruben Gallego, to return nan statement stage. Now that Gallego says he’s game, Lake is insisting nan statement deviate from its accepted format. 

“I americium fresh to statement Ruben Gallego correct now, correct here,” a defiant Lake said astatine a news convention successful Phoenix connected March 15. 

“I’ll statement him astatine that array correct now,” she added, pointing to nan distance, summoning chuckles from nan crowd. “I’ll statement him immoderate time.” 

More than 4 months on, aft nan Gallego-Lake electoral matchup was formalized erstwhile some candidates won their respective primaries, Gallego confirmed to NBC News that he is fresh for a debate — but Lake has appeared much selective astir who should shape one. 

On Tuesday, conscionable hours earlier she clinched nan GOP nomination, NBC News asked Lake whether she would participate successful a statement against Gallego organized by nan Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, nan state’s accepted administrator for governmental debates. 

“I deliberation we should talk astir which statement we do,” Lake said aft having formed her ballot successful nan GOP superior astatine a polling location successful Paradise Valley.

“I deliberation our 2 teams tin talk a adjacent place, a adjacent level to do that,” she added aft she expressed skepticism astir nan Arizona Clean Elections Commission. 

In 2022, nan Democratic nominee for governor, Katie Hobbs, past nan authorities caput of state, refused to participate successful an Arizona Clean Elections statement against Lake, nan Republican nominee for governor. When Hobbs declined, nan committee invited Lake for a 30-minute Q&A. Hobbs projected that she and Lake each person abstracted municipality halls organized by Arizona Clean Elections, but nan committee rejected nan offer, saying it would beryllium a deviation from nan accepted statement format.

Hobbs still did not work together to nan Arizona Clean Elections connection for a accepted debate, saying Lake would create a "spectacle." Her determination allowed Lake to person a 30-minute municipality hallway connected Oct. 23, 2022, organized by nan committee successful Hobbs’ absence. Hobbs past participated successful a abstracted Q&A pinch Arizona PBS, which has nary affiliation pinch Arizona Clean Elections. 

The committee said it was "surprised" by Arizona PBS’ determination to induce Hobbs for a municipality hall.

"This determination is disappointing, particularly pursuing nan aggregate attempts connected behalf of each nan partners progressive successful producing this year’s General Election debates, to shape a accepted Gubernatorial statement betwixt nan 2 candidates," Arizona Clean Elections said up of nan dueling municipality halls, noting nan announcement "broke from our shared practice."

Two years on, Lake still harbors resentment toward nan committee contempt its deficiency of engagement successful Hobbs’ Q&A successful 2022. Lake explained her gripe pinch “how they treated group successful nan past predetermination cycle, backmost successful ’22, wherever group who decided not to do nan debate, namely Hobbs, ended up getting her ain half an hour.”

“I don’t want to activity pinch group who are, you know, operating that way,” she said. 

Given Hobbs’ Q&A was not affiliated pinch Arizona Clean Elections, nan organization’s executive head says Lake’s vexation is misplaced. 

“The Lake run is mistaken astir nan facts from 2022,” executive head Thomas Collins said successful a connection to NBC News.

“Clean Elections did not sponsor immoderate statement aliases question and reply pinch then-Secretary Hobbs (now Governor Hobbs) successful 2022,” wrote Collins, who noted nan committee discontinued its narration pinch Arizona PBS for nan long of nan 2022 predetermination rhythm aft it announced it would induce Hobbs for nan Q&A.

Collins remains hopeful that nan committee tin still sponsor nan square-off betwixt Gallego and Lake, writing, “We look guardant to hosting nan US legislature statement betwixt Mrs. Lake and Mr. Gallego pinch our partners.” 

Asked astir Lake’s hesitance astir participating successful nan Clean Elections debate, Gallego noted its history successful Arizona.

“Traditionally, for nan last, I think, 3 Senate races, each Senate statement has happened astatine nan Clean Elections debate,” Gallego said past week. “So I don’t understand why Kari Lake is acrophobic of even-grounded debate.”

He accused Lake of “running distant from tradition” and tossed barbs astatine her for refusing to judge her nonaccomplishment successful nan 2022 governor’s race.

“Traditionally, you besides concede aft you suffer an election. You don’t hold until 2 years later and record to overturn nan election. But I conjecture now she’s comfortable and wants to get free of different tradition,” Gallego said. 

Gallego besides told NBC News he is not taking Hobbs’ reservations astir Lake’s turning a statement into “spectacle” into consideration.

“The information is that we request to talk to nan voters of Arizona, and I spot nan voters of Arizona that they’re going to perceive to some sides,” he said. 

Arizona Clean Elections debates typically hap successful October, astir a period earlier Election Day. Lake’s firebrand style and inclination to spell for nan jugular pinch incendiary attacks, coupled pinch Gallego’s proclivity to get wonky connected policy, would make a statement a highly anticipated affair.

But earlier it comes to fruition, nan Lake and Gallego campaigns must spell done nan aforesaid workout nan Trump and Harris campaigns are grappling with: agreeing to nan terms.