Delaware’s Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate squared off Monday in their only debate ahead of next week’s primary.
Progressive activist Kerri Harris hit incumbent Sen. Tom Carper for being a political insider, out of touch with ordinary Delawareans.
She faulted him for supporting current Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s elevation to the U.S. Circuit Court in 2006 - as well as his push to ease regulations on some banks and his vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Harris took aim with his environmental record locally.
“He voted to bring to allow Tyson Chicken Co. to stop reporting their harmful emissions," she said. "People in Sussex County are dying. This is not ok, everything is connected. All of your votes count, not just the ones you can pat yourself on the back for.”
Carper disputes that, saying Tyson still must report emissions, but in a different format.
But Carper argued he’s been a leader on environmental issues.
“I’ve led the way in trying to make sure that the Clean Power Plan of Barack Obama is actually restored and implemented," he said. "You know actually increase fuel standards for cars, trucks and vans in a way that enables us to end up with more people working in the auto industry.”
Both Carper and Harris agree more needs to be done to bring down the cost of health care. Carper supports fixing the Affordable Care Act. Harris is pushing for Medicare for All, a position popularized by former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The primary is Sept. 6th.
