In the third and final debate, Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin faced off against her Republican challenger Paul Junge in the race for the 8th Congressional District.
The topic of healthcare continued to dominate the race after an exchange between the candidates at the second debate went viral.
Slotkin pressed Junge to take a position on the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.
During an exchange where Junge offered he’d “protect people with preexisting conditions” Slotkin interjected, “So then have some guts and come out against the administration like John James just did,” referencing the Republican Senate candidate.
Junge responded “This is another partisan false choice offered by the Congresswoman,” before saying he will support parts of the Affordable Care Act if it’s the best option to protect people with preexisting conditions, but he said the Affordable Care Act as the best option is a false choice.
The debate took place hours after the President ordered his negotiators to end discussions on a coronavirus relief package ahead of the election, Representative Slotkin implored political leaders to renege on the negotiating freeze.
“I urge the President to reverse himself, get back in the negotiating room. Just like I urged my own leadership in the House. It is the responsibility of all elected leaders to meet the moment, put politics aside even with the election this close and negotiate another package,” said Slotkin.
Junge—a former television anchor, Trump appointee and an attorney—said he understood the President’s decision to call off negotiations, calling Democratic leadership “intransigent” and criticized Slotkin’s voting record on relief packages.
“To some degree I see what the Trump administration—what President Trump did—that you have an intransigent Democrat leadership that just will not move. I mean from what I understand there have been countless negotiations between Secretary Mnuchin and the Speaker,” said Junge.
Both candidates are vying for control of the politically purple 8th Congressional District which spans Ingham, Oakland, and Livingston counties.