October 2, 2020

US Senate race, debate preview, the Electoral College

We hear from the candidates running for U.S. Senate in Arizona.

In a race that has captured the attention of pundits nationwide and could potentially determine if Senate Democrats clinch the majority, Sen. Martha McSally and Mark Kelly will meet for their only scheduled televised debate Tuesday in Phoenix.

Ahead of their U.S. Senate debate, Arizona 360 heard from each of the candidates. Lorraine Rivera asked Republican incumbent McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly about issues affecting Arizonans such as the economy, border security and health care.

You can watch the live debate on PBS 6 or listen on NPR 89.1 at 7 p.m. on October 6. Rivera will serve as a moderator along with journalists from the Arizona Republic, Arizona PBS and KJZZ.


While polls put Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly ahead of Republican incumbent Martha McSally, their debate on Oct. 6 could sway undecided voters toward McSally. As for what each candidate needs to accomplish in order to succeed, Arizona 360 got analysis from Ron Hansen, a national political reporter for The Arizona Republic.


Winning the White House requires at least 270 votes in the Electoral College. Out of 538 electors from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Arizona will cast 11 of those votes. Both campaigns have courted Arizona voters with multiple stops and events in the state. We discussed Arizona’s significance in the Electoral College with Barbara Norrander, a political scientist at the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy.

Arizona 360
Arizona 360 airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6 and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on PBS 6 PLUS. See more from Arizona 360.
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