Hobbs refuses to debate Lake in Arizona governor race | Govt-and-politics

Democrat Katie Hobbs stated Sunday she will not share a stage with Republican Kari Lake. That got here even after the Residents Clear Election Fee provided final week to let Hobbs suggest situations on a head-to-head occasion.

However the determination is hardly a shock.

Nicole DeMont, Hobbs’ marketing campaign supervisor, balked final week when fee chairman Damien Meyer requested her flat out whether or not there are any situations below which the candidate would conform to take part in the identical type of debate the fee has sponsored for many years. DeMont stated she wouldn’t reply to “hypothetical” questions.

And Hobbs refused to debate Marco Lopez forward of the Democratic main.

In explaining the choice, DeMont repeated the identical claims she made to commissioners final week, charging that Lake would flip the occasion into “fixed interruptions, pointless distractions, and infantile name-calling.”

She additionally has complained that Lake, who insists that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, would spend the time rehashing outdated conspiracy theories slightly than how concentrate on insurance policies for governing the state.

DeMont repeated her supply to take part in a “city corridor” model occasion, the place she and Lake would reply questions, however individually. Commissioners rejected that proposal Thursday, saying the general public is entitled to see the candidates aspect by aspect.

Hobbs’ determination implies that Lake will get half-hour of her personal on KAET-TV, the Phoenix PBS affiliate. It’s set to be held on Oct. 12, with questions from Ted Simons, who has hosted different debates. That’s exactly what occurred when Hobbs snubbed a debate with Lopez.

No different main candidate for any Arizona statewide workplace has refused to debate.