POST DEBATE UPDATE
In a contentious debate that touched on issues from the economy to women's reproductive rights to UFOs, incumbent Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown went head-to-head Thursday night.
Discussing higher costs for Nevada families Rosen stressed the importance of affordable housing and her opposition to the merger of Albertsons and Kroger. On the same subject Brown stressed that the high cost of energy was hurting Nevadan pocketbooks and advocated for decreased regulation.
Both candidates agreed on Israel having a right to defend itself, but Rosen added that she believed Israel has a responsibility to limit civilian casualties, allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and work on getting hostages back.
On renewable energy, Sam Brown equated sustainable energy with higher costs, saying Nevada needs to keep energy as cheap as possible. Rosen, meanwhile, touted the fact that Nevada has flourished as a green energy state.
On immigration Brown advocated securing the border and said migrants convicted of crimes should be deported immediately. He also accused Rosen of having only been to the border once. Rosen said she backed comprehensive immigration reform and attacked Brown for coming out against the Border Protection Act.
Rosen advocated for ethics reform on the Supreme Court in a question only asked of her. She said she would look at incorporating term limits for justices but would not increase the size of the court.
Brown was asked about his position on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. He said that he initially saw opportunities to drive revenue for the state but that in researching the issue further he didn't support it. He said that after looking closer it was clear it was a dead issue.
Things got heated during a discussion of abortion. Brown said he would not support a national abortion ban and that he stands by Nevada's law and believes in exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.
Rosen accused Brown of supporting a national abortion ban in the past. She said she supports the restoration of Roe V Wade.
When asked about transgender athletes being able to participate in sports, Rosen said such decisions should be made by parents, leagues, coaches, and teams. Brown, meanwhile, said he stands with the University of Nevada, Reno Women's Volleyball team and would not support biological males playing women's sports.
When discussing the VA healthcare system, Brown said that bureaucracy creates issues where veterans can end up in bad situations and that the VA system doesn't cover all it needs to. Rosen discussed her support of the PACT Act to expand veteran healthcare and her work in bringing construction of a new VA hospital to northern Nevada.
On UFOs, Rosen said she supports the Senate conducting its own independent investigation, while Brown said he was just as curious about the phenomena as anyone else.
In their closing statements, Brown stressed the choice voters have to make about their future and cast Rosen as a Washington insider. Rosen touted her bipartisanship, saying 90% of her legislation as a Senator has been bipartisan in nature.
Who won tonight's Nevada senate debate?
Jacky Rosen and Sam Brown went head-to-head in their only debate of the election cycle. Who do you think came out on top?
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Nevada's U.S. Senate race draws the political spotlight Thursday when incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown hold their only face-to-face debate before early voting begins ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
The outcome of the race could affect the party balance in the Senate, where Democrats hold slim control over Republicans.
The election pits Rosen, a first-term senator seen as a political consensus-builder, against Brown, a retired Army captain who bears scars from battlefield injuries and is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Each has called the other extreme.
Brown, during a campaign rally last Friday in Reno, promised to secure the U.S. border; make housing more affordable; lower prices on food, fuel and medication; end taxes on tips; and eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.
Rosen argues that her challenger is out of touch with Nevada residents, where nonpartisan and other voters make up nearly 40% of the statewide electorate of 2.4 million. Voting leans Republican in rural areas and Democratic in the two most populous and urban areas: Las Vegas and Reno.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
