Barr, Booker Clash in Kentucky Senate Debate

Republican Andy Barr and Democrat Charles Booker debated for the Kentucky U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell. They clashed over inflation and gas prices, health care, gun safety and foreign policy; Barr backed fossil-fuel production, lower spending, tax cuts and the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, while Booker blamed Republican policies for rising costs and criticized what he called an open-ended conflict involving Iran. Both said they would work across party lines for Kentuckians. Analysts said affordability was a central voter concern, and that Kentucky’s Republican lean favors Barr, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, while economic dissatisfaction could help Booker.