Challenger Sam Brown and Sen. Jacky Rosen. (Photo: Hugh Jackson/Nevada Current)
In their sole debate, Nevada Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown traded jabs over abortion, immigration, and energy policy — but found common ground on unconditional support for Israel.
With mail-ballots already reaching Nevada voters, Brown went on the offense in a race polls have shown to be in Rosen’s favor. Rosen, a first-term senator, has also proven to be a prolific fundraiser, raising more than $12 million from July through September, about $3.5 million more than her Republican opponent.
During the hourlong debate hosted by KLAS-TV, Brown, an army veteran, sought to portray the state’s junior Senator as an out-of-touch elitist. Rosen repeatedly branded Brown a right-wing extremist who would vote to enact a national abortion ban if elected.
Brown rejected the accusation that he would support a federal ban on the procedure, sharing a personal story about his wife receiving an abortion after an unplanned pregnancy earlier in her life.
“I also stand by Nevada’s law that allows for abortion up to 24 weeks,” Brown said. “Nevadans made our law clear 34 years ago. I stand by that law, and I would not vote for a national abortion ban.”
Rosen shot back, pointing to Brown’s past record on the issue, including his previous support for a 20-week abortion ban — with no exceptions for rape or incest — when he was a Texas statehouse candidate in 2014.
As previously reported by the Current, Brown and his wife Amy quietly attended an anti-abortion gala in September 2023. He also previously held a position with the Nevada Faith and Freedom Coalition, the state arm of a national organization backing extreme abortion bans.
Rosen also highlighted recent comments by Brown suggesting he opposes Nevada’s Question 6, which would enshrine the state’s abortion protections in the constitution.
“He has a decade long record of saying that he’s against any exceptions on abortion,” Rosen said.
“If you don’t believe that he would support a nationwide abortion ban, then I’ve got some oceanfront property to sell you on the Las Vegas Strip,” she continued.
Rosen added she supports filibuster carve-outs to allow the U.S. Senate to pass federal abortion rights protections with a mere majority of votes instead of the two-third required to overcome a filibuster.
Nevada has more than 130 pending renewable energy projects, but Rosen and Brown had competing ideas on the role of green energy on the state’s economy. Brown blamed the Biden administration’s investment in clean energy for driving up the cost of living, including groceries and gas.
Rosen defended clean energy investment, noting that the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have pulled in billions of dollars of clean energy investments into Nevada, and created thousands of jobs. She also criticized Brown’s previous comments that he would have voted against both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Nevada is the leader in the sustainable energy future with wind, water, solar and geothermal. We have more solar jobs per capita than any other state in the nation.” Rosen said. “Companies are moving here to build component parts for solar panels.”
“Sam would have voted against all of this investment that we’ve made in Nevada that’s bringing in billions of dollars,” she continued.
Brown dodged questions about whether he would support former President Donald Trump’s plans to enforce mass deportations, calling the plan “a very big logistical undertaking.” Brown went on to attack the Biden administration for undoing Trump’s border policies.
“What I can tell you is, we start with securing the border and then we deport those criminals, like the 13,000 people who are convicted of homicide,” Brown said.
Brown was referring to data provided to Congress last month from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The ICE report noted the data covers four decades, including the Trump administration, and includes people who are already incarcerated.
Rosen defended her record on border security, highlighting her support for the Bipartisan Border Security Deal, which would have invested more than $20 billion for border security and restricted asylum.
That legislation was negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators led by Oklahoma Republican James Lankford, and was criticized by immigration groups as being too accommodating to Republican anti-immigration policies. The bill failed, however, after Donald Trump effectively ordered Republican senators to vote against it.
Rosen said she will also continue to support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders.
While the debate was contentious at times, Rosen and Brown also found several policy issues they both support.
Both candidates highlighted their support for ending taxation on tips, a policy Trump first unveiled during a campaign rally in Las Vegas in June. The policy proposal quickly gained steam, leading Rosen to back a “no tax on tips” bill introduced by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
However, Rosen said any legislation on the issue should include ending the subminimum wage for tipped workers and limits to ensure high-earners can’t count bonuses as tips to avoid paying taxes.
Both Rosen and Brown also suggested there was no red line Israel could cross to lose their support. Both candidates said they opposed the Biden administration’s ultimatum that Israel allow more humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza in the next 30 days or risk the suspension of billions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Israel.
“Israel should be able to defend itself. The United States should not inject itself in any sort of decision making process, but we need to stand with Israel to take care of its own business,” Brown said.
“I do not support the ultimatum. I believe that we need to support Israel,” Rosen said. “What I do support is our responsibility to help those civilians who are suffering in Gaza or to help limit civilian casualties.”