Republican candidates for attorney general, Tom Horne and Mark Brnovich, squared off in a Phoenix debate Monday night.
Mark Brnovich.
Attorney General Tom Horne.
The debate opened with challenger Brnovich attacking incumbent Horne's values and legal woes.
Brnovich again and again came back to accusations that Horne is misusing office staff for campaign activities, that he was investigated by the FBI, and even tried to get out of an alleged hit and run fender bender.
Horne was defensive.
"Let me tell you what happened. In 2010 when I won office, I won it back for Republicans after the Democrats had had it for 12 years and the liberal press couldn’t stand this and they engaged in ceaseless attacks on me," Horne said.
Brnovich did not let up throughout the 30 minutes clean elections debate.
"...this isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue, it is not an issue of right or left, it is a plain issue of right or wrong," he said. "We cannot afford to have an attorney general that is constantly under investigation."
Horne tried to tout his conservative credentials pointing to two Supreme Court wins against the Obama administration and the fact that he has out-raised Brnovich.
The challenger responded to that saying it only took one rock to slay Goliath.
The primary election is Aug. 26. The winner will face off against Democratic candidate Felecia Rotellini, who is running in the primary unopposed, in the general election Nov. 5.
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