HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP, KYW Newsradio) — Three Democrats with their eyes set on running for their party in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race met Thursday evening for their first live, televised prime-time debate in a race that is perhaps the party's best opportunity to pick up a seat in the closely divided chamber.
John Fetterman, Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb of suburban Pittsburgh appeared at the studio of WHTM-TV in Harrisburg for the one-hour debate.
The three are jockeying for the nomination to try to succeed retiring two-term Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in the premier presidential battleground state. The May 17 primary election is less than four weeks away.
The debate began at 8 p.m., streamed online and televised by stations in Pennsylvania's six media markets, as well as stations in Youngstown, Ohio, and Elmira and Buffalo, New York, New York City and Washington. Questions for the candidates introduced a range of topics, including gas tax at the federal level, the war in Ukraine, and the gun violence crisis happening across the entire state of Pennsylvania.
Related
'A more aggressive approach to gun violence'
When asked what one thing as a senator they would do to address violent crime, Lamb got the chance to answer first.
"I think the most important is we need to shift law enforcement dollars and priorities away from the non-violent drug crimes that still get prosecuted as a result of the War on Drugs and toward a more aggressive approach to gun violence,” he said.
Lamb added he thinks background checks and closing loopholes were also important to him.
North Philly's Kenyatta answered next, pulling from personal experience.
"Just two days ago, a 64-year-old man was sitting in his car a couple blocks from my house and was shot in the head. For me, there are very few things that are more personal and emotional for me.”
Kenyatta says he has a three-point plan, which includes passing gun safety legislation, helping to make the "American bargain" real for every family, and taking a governmental approach, through a state of emergency.
Fetterman, who addressed a 2013 incident when he confronted a Black man, allegedly with a gun, who he suspected was involved in a shooting near his home, answered last for this round.
"I believe, as a country, we need to pass a comprehensive basket of commonsense gun control legislation. Passing comprehensive legislation at the federal level that an overwhelming majority of Americans want, is only possible by eliminating the filibuster," Fetterman said.
Related
COVID-19 and mask mandates
The issue of mask mandates as a tool against COVID-19 came up shortly before news broke that Philadelphia would be ending its renewed mandate just days after beginning to enforce it. Notably, Fetterman and Kenyatta came out against mandates.
"We have to move past COVID," said Fetterman, adding that "we have to live with this virus, and I don't believe going backwards with a mask mandate or with closures is appropriate."
U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb of suburban Pittsburgh said he hated wearing masks, but thought Philadelphia officials were "trying to do what's best for everybody."
Related
Lamb and Kenyatta vs. Fetterman
The primary race took a sharp turn three weeks ago as Lamb and Kenyatta began attacking Fetterman in earnest, and a super PAC supporting Lamb began running a TV ad statewide accusing Fetterman of being extreme. Fetterman says the ad's claims are false.
Fetterman has told crowds he would only run a “positive” campaign.
He did not attend a prior debate a few weeks ago.
A Franklin & Marshall College poll in February found that Fetterman appeared to have an early lead in the primary, but many voters were undecided.