LOS ANGELES, CA – U.S. Senate hopeful Christina Pascucci called the first US Senate debate a disservice to California voters and said the candidates failed to offer new solutions to the state’s mounting problems.
The debate, on the campus of USC, only included four candidates: Republican Steve Garvey, and Democrats Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff.
“That was so frustrating to watch. You have the three Democratic establishment candidates who are pointing the finger at Washington–they ARE Washington. They used their time to score political points while offering no creative new solutions for some of our most pressing issues like homelessness or the border,” said Pascucci. “There was not even talk of our failing schools or mental health crisis. They also didn’t mention foster youth who make up half the homeless population.”
Moderators quickly lost control of the debate as the three Establishment Democrats fixated on former President Donald Trump for 10 minutes.
“The main thing that I saw on that stage is that there was zero leadership,” added Pascucci. “Californians deserve better.”
POLITICO, FOX 11 Los Angeles, and USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future have faced criticism for excluding Independent Democrat Pascucci and two other candidates who polled a collective 20% of the poll the debate sponsors used to qualify candidates. No clear criteria was made public ahead of the sponsors’ announcement of the debate invitees. Pascucci supporters and independent voters have denounced the move as undemocratic and biased.
