Sen. Martha McSally, challenger Mark Kelly to debate next week

PHOENIX – A week after the first presidential debate of 2020 general election, Arizonans will get the chance to hear their U.S. Senate candidates go head to head on the issues.

Republican Sen. Martha McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly are set to debate at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6.

The Arizona Clean Elections Commission, a nonpartisan voter education agency, is presenting the 90-minute event along with several local media outlets.

Arizona PBS, KJZZ and Arizona Public Media will broadcast the debate live, and AZCentral.com will livestream it.

KJZZ’s Steve Goldstein, Arizona Public Media’s Lorraine Rivera, The Arizona Republic’s Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Arizona PBS’ Ted Simons will serve as moderators. The public can submit potential questions online.

Viewers can expect to hear the candidates spar over their views on health care, the economy, the coronavirus response and the Supreme Court vacancy.

Arizona’s 2020 races have been in the national spotlight because the state is a potential tipping point for control of the Senate and the White House.

McSally and the GOP are trying to hold the seat she was appointed to after Sen. John McCain’s 2018 death, but polls have shown Kelly with a consistent lead.

The incumbent had been seeking as many as seven debates, but the challenger has agreed to only one so far.

McSally and Kelly will square off one week after President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden debate for the first time at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Trump and Biden are set to face off again Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

The three presidential debates will be carried live on KTAR New 92.3 FM, KTAR.com and the KTAR News app.

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