{
  "id": 16073965,
  "title": "The good, the bad and the unruly from over two dozen candidate debates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/the-good-the-bad-and-the-unruly-from-over-two-dozen-candidate-debates",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T16:14:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "POLITICO",
    "slug": "politico",
    "url": "https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/22/senate-governor-debates-midterms-takeaways-01131948"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Election Day approaches, over two dozen candidate debates across the nation have taken place. Democrats sought to paint their Republican opponents in a negative light by focusing on their loyalty to President Donald Trump, while Republicans attempted to present nuanced viewpoints on issues such as the Iran war and data centers. The following are key takeaways from these debates, as well as those that were not held.\n\nRepublicans faced challenges in distancing themselves from the unpopular president. Several candidates, particularly those in blue states, were willing to break away from Trump's policies. In New Hampshire, former Senator John Sununu stated he has never met President Trump and is not afraid to stand up to his party or the president when wrong. In Minnesota, Republican Senate nominee Michelle Tafoya disagreed with Trump's tariff policy and immigration enforcement, and refused to appear on stage with him, stating that she represents the people of Minnesota. In Maine, Republican gubernatorial nominee Susan Collins highlighted her history of voting against the president more than 100 times this year and criticized Trump's approach to Iran. GOP nominee for governor Bobby Charles expressed disagreement with Trump's \"extended engagement\" in Iran, citing his knowledge of the consequences of prolonged military involvement.\n\nSome Republicans grew frustrated with Democrats tying them to the president, with former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) noting that the GOP should focus on the frequency of the Democratic candidate's use of the word \"Trump\" in his responses. In contrast, candidates in more conservative states were more willing to embrace Trump, recognizing the importance of his base in winning elections. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall expressed support for Trump, stating that he can disagree with the president on certain matters while maintaining a relationship with him to discuss the pros and cons of his proposals.\n\nDemocrats targeted Republicans on economic issues, blaming Trump's tariff policy and Iran war for rising prices. Some conceded that Trump's policies were detrimental to their campaigns, while others attempted to blame the previous administration. For example, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) conceded that inflation was caused by Bidenomics and the Green New Deal, while his wife, Susan Collins (D-ME), blamed the tariffs and war on Iran. Republican nominee for Senate Ashley Hinson in Iowa proposed pausing the gasoline tax before discussing the impact of the war. Democrats echoed these sentiments, criticizing Trump's policies and promising to repeal tariffs if elected. Kansas Senate candidate Adam Hamilton stated that his support for the president would depend on whether voters prioritize record diesel fuel prices or change.\n\nBoth parties shared a common disdain for data centers, despite their differing policy proposals. Candidates from both parties advocated for local control, emphasizing the importance of community input in decision-making. In New Hampshire, former Governor Kelly Ayotte's push for a statewide moratorium on data centers was echoed by both Senate candidates, Sununu and Tafoya. Republican nominee for governor Rick Jackson of Georgia vowed to defend against data centers if local communities oppose them, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn in Iowa supported eliminating tax breaks for data center developers. Maine Senate candidates both called for guardrails to prevent data centers from raising utility rates for local residents.\n\nDebates can sometimes backfire, with candidates facing gaffe-related setbacks. In Alaska, Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola appeared to be reading from a notecard during a debate, providing her opponent, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, with an opportunity to mock her. Sullivan later admitted to peeking at Peltola's answers during a lightning-round question, which led to laughter from the audience. Similarly, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall faced loud cheers of \"you don't live here\" during a debate at the state fair.",
  "summary": "POLITICO watched all the key Senate and gubernatorial debates so you didn’t have to",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}