NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The two major party candidates for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut met on the debate stage Wednesday evening for their first and only debate of the election.
In this year’s election, incumbent Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy is squaring off in a rematch with Republican candidate Matthew Corey. The two were on the ballot opposite each other in 2018 when Murphy triumphed by 20 points.
At times, it seemed like the two candidates couldn’t be further apart, but they found common ground in a couple of areas.
In public opinion polling, the economy is reliably listed as voters’ top concern, and it was the first topic both candidates were asked about live on the News 8 debate stage.
What can be done to lower costs for Connecticut families?
Murphy promoted efforts led by the Biden administration intended to crack down on price gouging practices.
He also touted plans proposed by Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We’ve got to put money back in the pockets of regular consumers. That means a child tax credit for families that need help,” Murphy said. “What we don’t need is more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires as supported by Donald Trump or a $4,000 tax increase as he’s proposing to do, due to a set of thoughtless and insane tariffs.”
Corey pointed the finger largely at government spending under the Biden administration.
“It’s the spending that needs to be cut–wasteful spending,” Corey said. “There was over a trillion dollars of wasteful spending in that package that they had–that they put forth. We need somebody down in Washington that understands business, understands the effect of policies that they bring home and how it affects individuals and businesses every single day.”
The two candidates also discussed abortion.
Murphy said he’d change the Senate’s filibuster rules to re-codify the protections of Roe v. Wade.
“This election frankly is going to decide, likely, whether women in this country and possibly whether women in Connecticut have the right to be able to make their own decisions about their healthcare future,” Murphy said.
Corey has said he does not support a national ban on abortions but also indicated he wanted to leave all future abortion policies up to individual states.
“Sen. Murphy wants to fearmonger in this election because that’s what they do in Washington. They send fear to you,” Corey said. “When you’re down in Washington that long, that’s what you do. You bring that home, and you scare your constituents.”
On immigration, Corey said he wants enforcement and deportations stepped up–starting with those who have committed violent crimes. Corey also criticized a bipartisan bill negotiated in part by Murphy—a bill Murphy and his bipartisan partners said would have increased border security with billions in new resources.
“I’m not talking about a mass deportation,” Corey said. “But the people that need to be eliminated from this country are the people that are committing the most heinous crimes.”
“I just don’t understand why we didn’t take the chance to invest the $40 billion in the bipartisan bill in border security,” Murphy said. “I think Republicans like to complain about the border but don’t end up actually proposing solutions.”
While the two candidates disagreed on much, much more than they agreed on, they did share some common ground.
They both agreed on the need to address the high cost of building new housing.
And, in a lightning round, they agreed on a much-discussed piece of social etiquette.
“Mr. Murphy, do you tip on a takeout order?” News 8’s Dennis House asked.
“I do, I do tip on most takeout orders,” Murphy replied.
Corey, a longtime bar owner, agreed.
“I’m in the hospitality business,” Corey said. “Of course I do,”
