Why it matters: The outcome of the race could help determine the U.S. Senate majority.
The big picture: The stakes were high, giving "Lake a chance to reset a race where polls and observers suggest she's modestly trailing" while offering Gallego "an opportunity to introduce himself to voters who still don't know him," per AP.
What they're saying: In their opening statements, the candidates were quick to start slinging mud, painting extreme portraits of their opponents.
"[W]e're going to see and talk to somebody who has really failed the basic test of honesty," Gallego said. "She has lied to Arizonans about the 2022 election. She has said that she still is the rightful governor of Arizona."
"We're going to be hearing tonight from somebody ... who has voted with the most radical Democrats in Washington, D.C., to tear open our borders ... who has torn apart our economy, and who has made our children and our lives less safe," Lake said.
