The Denver Post hosted a 90-minute debate Tuesday night at its headquarters between the five candidates competing to run against Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet in November: Robert Blaha, Ryan Frazier, Darryl Glenn, Jack Graham and Jon Keyser. Below are clips from 10 top moments and exchanges from the Colorado GOP Senate primary debate.
1. In the first round of questions, Jon Keyser responded to a question asking whether he agreed with any votes by Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet .
2. Darryl Glenn asked Keyser about the petition fraud issue by linking it with the honor code at the Air Force Academy, from which both graduated.
3. Asked about the often-proposed but never passed Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to provide protections for LGBT people, GOP Senate candidate Robert Blaha dismissed recent controversies about transgender rights.
4. The candidates answer a question about whether they would like to see the Roe v. Wade abortion decision overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
5. Robert Blaha challenged Jack Graham to explain his firing by Colorado State University as athletic director and to release his performance reviews. The exchange was the most contentious of the evening.
6. Keyser was the only one to answer “No” when the candidates were asked if they would campaign with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
7. Graham criticized Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner for refusing to meet with Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland or to support giving Garland a hearing in the Senate.
8. Keyser pushed back against Graham’s characterization that he represents conservative Republican values, despite some left-leaning positions on social issues.
9. Glenn, in his closing remarks, said he was the only candidate on stage to already chart a victory this year, referring to his upset win at the state convention to secure a spot on the primary ballot.
10. Ryan Frazier responded to a question about his continued difficulty qualifying for the ballot.
You can watch the full debate below:
Video production and editing from The Denver Post’s Vince Chandler, Hyoung Chang, Eric Lutzens and Meghan Lyden.
