NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton sparred over President Donald Trump, immigration, Iran, transgender athletes, artificial intelligence and personal controversies during a contentious debate in the Kansas Senate Wednesday night. The hour-long showdown came less than two weeks before Election Day, as Marshall seeks a second term and Hamilton, a longtime pastor, attempts to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas since 1932. The race has drawn increased national attention as Republicans and Democrats fight for control of the Senate, with Trump traveling to Kansas earlier this week to campaign for Marshall. Here are five moments that stood out from Wednesday night’s debate. (Getty Images) The debate begins with candidates confronted by personal controversies. The debate wasted no time in becoming contentious, beginning with questions about controversies that have fueled attacks against both candidates. Marshall faced a New York Times review that found his former medical office sued more than 700 patients for unpaid bills. “Every year we donate three to four million dollars to charity, but we also had a business,” Marshall responded. “We had 300 employees, we had a mortgage payment, we had electricity.” Meanwhile, Hamilton was questioned about his handling of allegations involving a volunteer at his church’s summer camp who was accused of sexual abuse. Hamilton acknowledged that he should have made sure the individual did not return to camp after an initial investigation. MID-DERM “I should have checked to make sure it didn’t come back,” Hamilton said. “That was a mistake on my part.” Marshall says: ‘President Trump isn’t always right’ Trump became part of the debate after moderators played footage of the president’s campaign appearance for Marshall in Kansas earlier in the week. “And in this election, I ask you to please pretend that I’m on the ballot. Just pretend,” Trump told the crowd. Marshall was then asked if Trump’s support meant Kansans should expect him to back every part of the president’s agenda. “No”. Marshall responded by saying there were “multiple occasions” he objected to Trump. Pressed to identify a specific disagreement, Marshall pointed to recent immigration enforcement in southwest Kansas and Trump’s approach to beef imports. “Just like with my wife, I can disagree with her. My wife is always right,” Marshall joked. “And President Trump is not always right.” Marshall, however, urged Trump voters to vote for him, arguing that electing Hamilton could help Democrats capture the Senate. Both candidates say there are “two genders.” The two rivals agreed when the moderator asked each candidate how many genders there are. “There’s two. There’s a boy and a girl,” Marshall said. “I gave birth to 5,000 of them, and almost half were boys and half were girls.” “There are two genders, male and female,” Hamilton responded. Biological males should compete against females. “I have a 12-year-old granddaughter. I don’t want men or biological boys competing against her and potentially harming her,” Hamilton said. “It’s not a fair fight.” Marshall argued that in high school, “boys should participate in boys’ sports and girls in girls’ sports,” while accusing national Democrats of pushing “transgender ideology.” to the development of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. “We developed a Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We need to do the same with AI,” Hamilton said. But when the moderator pressed him to identify specific federal regulations he would support, Hamilton acknowledged he still didn’t have an answer. “You know what? To be honest, I’m not sure,” Hamilton said, arguing that even experts are struggling to understand the potential dangers of the technology. Marshall advocated for a “light touch” approach focused on national security, transparency, child protection and privacy, while criticizing a single global order for the advancement of artificial intelligence. Hamilton snapped. “This is an existential threat, existential potential for the human race,” Hamilton said. “We can’t just go with a light touch and expect everyone to do their best.” BIDEN ABSENT FROM CAMPAIGN AS OBAMA AND HARRIS MOVE FOR MEDIUM-TERM PUSH This split image shows then-President Biden and migrants at the southern border. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo) Hamilton calls Biden’s border policies a “disaster.” Hamilton tried to put distance between himself and former President Joe Biden when moderators challenged the Democrat over his claim that he would “lead from the middle.” came to the border was a disaster,” Hamilton responded. “I believe in strong, secure borders.” “I’m not someone who favors the Socialist Party,” Hamilton added. “I’m someone who’s in the middle.” CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Hamilton also reiterated during the debate that he would not support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for majority leader if Democrats capture control of the chamber. Alec Schemmel is a political reporter for Fox News Digital and is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, but now resides in the Washington DC-Baltimore metropolitan area.
