The forum
On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, Davis and Watkins appeared together in Independence at a forum organized by several county Farm Bureau associations and local chambers of commerce. It was a forum, not a debate: both answered the same questions but did not respond to each other. Libertarian Kelly Standley was expected but did not attend. The Davis campaign streamed the event.
Where they differed
Immigration. Watkins called for a border wall and a crackdown on illegal immigration, saying he wanted "to keep our culture," and supported ending sanctuary cities and chain migration. Davis backed a path to citizenship for immigrants who work, pay taxes and learn English, and did not directly address the wall.
Social Security. Watkins called the system broken and headed toward insolvency, said reducing benefits for future retirees was the only way to save it, and told younger workers not to expect current benefits. Davis pledged never to cut benefits and criticized a House Republican budget plan that would reduce entitlement spending: "I think that that is wrong."
The budget. Davis linked rising deficits to the 2017 tax law and said the government needed to get its finances in order without cutting benefits.
How it turned out
The candidates met twice more, on WIBW-TV on October 18 and KTWU-TV on October 22. See what the debates revealed. Watkins won on November 6.
Sources
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