Midterm Elections Updates: Oz, Fetterman Won't Support SCOTUS Expansion

Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz found one area of agreement in Tuesday night's debate: neither supports adding justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fetterman, the state's Democratic lieutenant governor, was asked about calls from multiple congressional Democrats to add justices to the Supreme Court to counter its current conservative orientation.

"I don't believe in that," said Fetterman, who added that he still disagreed with the court ideologically.

"I would never touch the makeup of the Supreme Court," said Oz.

The moment of agreement was short-lived. Oz called out Fetterman for his support of abolishing the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most legislation to advance. Oz called it a "dangerously radical move" that would open the door for expanding the Supreme Court.

Midterm Elections Updates: Oz Says Fentanyl Made Pennsylvania a 'Border State'

Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz said during Tuesday night's debate that Pennsylvania has become a "border state" as fentanyl trafficking has ravaged the state.

Oz said that his Democratic opponent, John Fetterman, supports an "open border" with Mexico that has allowed cartels to import the deadly and addictive narcotic into the U.S.

"It's making every state a border state," said Oz. "Pennsylvania is already a border state because we're the top three in the country and fentanyl overdoses."

Fetterman said Oz and his wife have been linked to a company that was given a heft fine for hiring illegal immigrants, a claim fact-checking website Snopes called "false."

"I think you should sit this one out," Fetterman said to Oz.

Fetterman called for Congress to pass a comprehensive bipartisan bill to reform immigration.

Midterm Elections Updates: Fetterman, Oz Backpedal on Fracking Statements

Both John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz were pressed on their previous statements opposing fracking during Tuesday night's debate for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as "fracking," is a controversial method of extracting oil and natural gas deep from underground that's been used extensively in Pennsylvania. Critics say the practice is unsafe and can endanger public health.

Republican candidate Oz was asked by a debate moderator about a 2014 column he wrote calling for a halt to fracking pending a health study that contradicted his more recent remarks saying it would guarantee high-paying jobs.

"I've been very consistent fracking has been demonstrated," Oz responded. "It's a very old technology to be safe. It is a lifeline for this Commonwealth to be able to build wealth, similar to what they've been able to achieve in other states."

Oz also criticized Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor and Democratic candidate, for criticizing fracking.

"I've always supported fracking," responded Fetterman. "And I always believe that independence with our energy is critical, and we can't be held, you know, ransom to somebody like Russia."

When pressed about his previous remarks opposing fracking, Fetterman insisted he supports it.

Midterm Elections Updates: Oz Says Market Already Raised Minimum Wage

Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz said workers in Pennsylvania are already being paid well above the federal minimum wage and could make even more by developing the state's energy sector.

When asked during Tuesday night's debate about raising the federal minimum wage, currently at $7.25 an hour, Oz said he's heard from business owners who are paying workers $15 an hour.

"I don't think it should have to be at $7.25," said Oz, saying he wants to "unleash" Pennsylvania's production of natural gas that could make the state more prosperous.

John Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor and Democratic candidate, called the current minimum wage a "disgrace." He questioned how Oz could understand the struggles of minimum-wage workers, pointing to the candidate's wealth.

"I believe every work has dignity, and every pay check must have dignity too," said Fetterman.

Hochul Asks Zeldin 'Is Donald Trump a Great President?'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul tried to force her Republican challenger, Lee Zeldin, into defending the record of former President Donald Trump.

"Is Donald Trump a great president?" Hochul asked Zeldin during Tuesday's gubernatorial debate.

Trump resoundingly lost New York in both of his presidential bids. But Zeldin, a Republican congressman, responded to Hochul's question by embracing his work with the former president.

Zeldin said he worked with the Trump administration on combating the MS-13 gang on Long Island, securing $2 billion for an electron ion collider at the Brookhaven National Lab, directing personal protective equipment during the pandemic and other local issues. He also highlighted Trump moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and pulling out of the nuclear deal with Iran, which Zeldin called "fatally flawed."

Zeldin Vows to Remove Trump's Nemesis if Elected New York Governor

Republican Lee Zeldin says if he's elected governor of New York he'll remove Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is investigating Donald Trump's business practices and has faced criticism for being soft on crime.

During Tuesday's debate with Governor Kathy Hochul, Zeldin doubled-down on earlier pledge to initiate a constitutional process to remove Bragg, who was elected to the post earlier this year. Zeldin accused Bragg of not enforcing laws while pursuing murder charges against Jose Alba who said he was defending himself when he fatally stabbed an assailant and fled to the Dominican Republic.

"If he's not going to do his job, I'm gonna do my job and I'm going to remove him as soon as I can," said Zeldin, a Republican representative.

Alba is currently continuing an investigation into tax fraud allegations facing the Trump Organization.

"You can't throw out someone who is duly elected," Hochul shot back. She added she was not surprised at Zeldin's stance, pointing out he had objected to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election while in Congress.

Hochul Has 7.4-Point Lead Over Zeldin

Polling averages compiled by FiveThirtyEight show Democrat Kathy Hochul with a 7.4-point average polling lead over Republican Lee Zeldin with two weeks remaining until New York voters choose their state's next governor.

Hochul and Zeldin are scheduled to participate in a debate Tuesday night starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Hochul, who has served as New York's governor since August 2021, has a polling average of 49.8 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight. Zeldin, who serves in Congress as a representative for New York's 1st District, is behind Hochul at 42.5 percent but has narrowed the gap over the last few weeks. The latest update to polling averages was dated October 24.

Polls conducted earlier this month by Siena College, Quinnipiac and SurveyUSA found Hochul leading Zeldin by a range of 4 to 11 points. In the last week, additional polling of likely voters by Bold Decision suggested Hochul's lead was even larger at 15 percent, though another poll by co/efficient said Zeldin had a 1-point lead in the race.

How to Watch Tuesday Night Debates

Debates are taking place Tuesday night in a handful of states as political races heat up in the final stretch before the November 8 midterm elections.

The one and only debate between Republican Mehmet Oz and Democrat John Fetterman, both of whom are running to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET. The Harrisburg-based television news station WHMT-TV will host the debate and air the event live. The station will also stream the debate live on its website.

In New York, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin will also hold their only debate ahead of the midterms on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. The debate will take place at Pace University and will air live on local Spectrum News channels. People interested in watching the debate will also be able to stream it live on the Spectrum News website or app.

Another gubernatorial debate is taking place in Rochester, Michigan at 7 p.m. local time. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is slated to debate Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon. This will be the second debate between Whitmer and Dixon, and it will stream live on The Detroit Free Press website.

Debates between gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates will also take place Tuesday night in Colorado. The gubernatorial debate between Democratic Governor Jared Polis and Republican Heidi Ganahl will take place at 7 p.m. local time. Their debate will follow one between Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet and Republican Joe O'Dea, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Both debates will stream live on YouTube and will also air live on several local radio stations.

Oz Trails Fetterman in Polling Averages

Polling averages for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania compiled by FiveThirtyEight show Republican Mehmet Oz trailing 2.3 points behind Democrat John Fetterman with two weeks remaining until Election Day. Fetterman and Oz are battling for the seat that incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey will soon vacate.

Polling averages assessed since July have continuously shown Fetterman ahead among potential voters, though his lead grew smaller throughout October. While some recent polls have indicated Fetterman may have a stronger lead than FiveThirtyEight's averages suggest, others conducted in the last week say the two candidates are 2 or 3 percentage points apart.

According to a CBS News and YouGov survey conducted from October 21 through 24, Fetterman had a 2-percent lead over Oz, a margin identical to one Rasmussen Reports and Pulse Opinion Research found in a poll conducted on October 19 and 20. Another poll conducted for CNN by SSRS said Fetterman had a 6-point lead over Oz as of mid-October.

FiveThirtyEight made its latest update to polling averages on Tuesday, shortly before Fetterman and Oz were due to participate in a debate.

Over 10 Million Early Votes Cast

More than 10 million ballots have already been cast ahead of the November 8 midterm elections, according to early voter data assessed by the U.S. Elections Project.

By Tuesday afternoon, data showed an estimated 10,236,094 ballots were cast early. Most of those votes were cast by mail, but more than 2.7 million were cast in person.

Of the states reporting early voting information, the data suggested that California, Florida and Georgia had the largest numbers of ballots that were returned early. As of October 24, more than 1.3 million ballots were returned in California and more than 1.2 million ballots were returned in Florida. Election officials in Georgia reported Tuesday that more than 1 million ballots had been returned from Georgia voters thus far with two weeks remaining until Election Day.

Focus on Crime Boosts Zeldin's Numbers in New York

The New York governor's race is closer than expected as Republican Lee Zeldin's focus on rising crime has boosted his numbers in recent polling.

Zeldin has made crime a priority in his campaign, noting shootings and unprovoked attacks on New York City subways.

"There is rising crime on our streets and in our subways, and people who are in charge right now in Albany actually feel like they haven't passed enough pro-criminal laws," Zeldin said recently.

He compared walking the streets of New York City to a "combat zone."

According to state data, murder, rape, robbery and assault rates have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. All of those crimes, except robbery, have increased from 2012 to 2021. New York Police Department data shows murder rates in the city dropped in the last two years while rape, robbery, assault and burglary rates are all up.

Crimes on the city transit system are more than 40 percent higher than at the same point last year. His messaging has resonated with voters in the final weeks of the race.

Still, Hochul is the favorite to win in the heavily blue state. New York has not had a Republican governor since George Pataki was reelected in 2002.

In recent weeks, Hochul has made efforts to combat crime across the state. She announced $28 million to combat gun violence across the state and a new plan with NYC Mayor Eric Adams to place and additional 1,200 police officers in the subway system.

"My number one priority as Governor is keeping New Yorkers safe in the streets, in their homes, in their schools, and on the subway, and we will do whatever it takes to make our subways safer for riders," Hochul said in a statement.

Hochul faced backlash over the latest policies, with some accusing the governor of making a last-minute push to maintain her lead of Zeldin. But Hochul said crime is "not a new issue" for her, adding that Zeldin "doesn't own the crime issues."

She has attacked Zeldin for being "too extreme," noting his ties to former President Donald Trump and his abortion stance. Zeldin, however, has said he "will not change and could not change" the state's abortion law in a new television ad.

Trump has endorsed Zeldin on his Truth Social account, calling the Republican candidate "a winner who got things done" for his tough stance on border security, crime and the military.

But with high inflation, the economy and crime top-of-mind for voters, the Trump endorsement may not be a major factor when New Yorker's are filling out their ballots.

In a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, 28 percent of voters in New York ranked crime as their highest concern. Inflation, at 20 percent, and "protecting democracy," at 14 percent, followed behind crime, according to the poll. This poll had Zeldin behind Hochul by only four percentage points.

According to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for TV stations WHEC and WNYT last week, Hochul leads Zeldin by only six percentage points, 47 percent to 41 percent. But other polls show Zeldin closing in on the governor.

In a recent survey from polling firm co/efficient, Zeldin has 46 percent of the support from likely New York voters, compared to Hochul's 45 percent. Nine percent of respondents said they were unsure.

The two candidates will face off in a debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Zeldin called his opponent a "coward" for only wanted one debate.

"Kathy Hochul doesn't have any answers for her failed leadership, which is why she doesn't want to take any questions," he said in a recent statement. "She's trying to get away with one debate for one hour at the end of October, a month after absentee ballots started going out."

Biden Slightly Below Trump's 2018 Approval Rating

President Joe Biden's approval rating remains low with just two weeks until the midterm elections.

The president's approval rating was 41.8 percent as of October 25, according to analysis from poll tracker FiveThirtyEight, while his disapproval rating stood at 53.4 percent.

This is an improvement in recent months since Biden's approval rating dropped to 37.9 percent and his disapproval rate hit 56.9 percent on July 24.

Biden's approval rating is slightly lower than former President Donald Trump's approval rating at the same stage in 2018 when Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives.

At the same point in the 2018 midterms race, Trump had an approval rating of 42.8 percent. His disapproval rating at the time was 52 percent.

In 2018, Democrats took control of the House of Representatives but Republicans retained control of the Senate. Recent polls have suggested a similar result this year with the parties' positions reversed but conditions for Democrats seem to have deteriorated in recent days.

Trump Highlights Endorsements on Truth Social

Former President Donald Trump continued encouraging support for candidates he has endorsed in the midterm elections in a series of Truth Social posts this week.

Trump has endorsed several Republican candidates since leaving office in early 2021. With two weeks remaining until Election Day, he issued some new candidate endorsements in online posts about races in Minnesota, Alabama and New Hampshire.

Kim Crockett, who is running to become Minnesota's next secretary of state, was identified in one of Trump's Tuesday morning Truth Social posts as a "strong and wonderful woman" who "will get to the bottom" of what Trump alleged was "rampant" voter fraud. "It's time we had a smart and dedicated fighter in that very important position," Trump's post said, adding that Crockett "will not let you down!!"

On Monday, Trump also shared an endorsement of Dale Strong, who is running for a congressional seat in Alabama, and of Robert Burns, who is running for Congress in New Hampshire. Trump said both candidates will be "fantastic" and have his "Complete and Total Endorsement" in their respective races.

Strong "will Grow our Economy, Fight Inflation, Stop Illegal Immigration, Strengthen our Military, Support our Vets and Brave Law Enforcement, Defend the Second Amendment, and Champion Conservative Values," and Burns "strongly supports our Second Amendment, Secure Borders, Lower Taxes and our Great Veterans," Trump's posts said.

Over 1 Million Votes Cast in Georgia

More than 1 million ballots have already been returned in Georgia with two weeks remaining until Election Day.

Gabriel Sterling, a state election official, announced that Georgia surpassed the 1 million ballot mark in a Tuesday tweet that said his state was having "another record day" for early votes cast.

"Another BIG day for voting here in Georgia," Sterling said.

Early voting in Georgia began last week. Sterling has said on social media that this year's numbers represent a record for early voting in his state in a midterm election.

According to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office, almost twice as many votes were cast during the first day of early voting this year compared with the number of votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2018.

"Totals have remained within striking distance of the 2020 Presidential election turnout, and have shattered previous midterm turnout records by 50% or greater during every day of Early Voting this week," a weekend press release from Raffensperger's office said.

Georgia has more than 7.8 million registered voters, nearly 7 million of whom officials identify as "active voters," according to state data. Sterling reminded residents on Monday that they still have time to request absentee ballots, which will be available through Friday.

Which States Allow Felons to Vote?

Can convicted felons vote in the U.S. midterms next month? The answer varies by state.

More states have moved to restore voting rights to convicted felons in recent decades. Some states allow felons to vote while incarcerated, while others lose their right to vote indefinitely.

In the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont, felons are able to vote while still incarcerated.

In most states, felons lose their right to vote while incarcerated, but are able to vote again when they are released and/or have completed parole or probation.

Voting rights are restricted or stripped for felons in 11 states. In these states, felons can lose their right to vote indefinitely, may require a governor's pardon, waiting period, or require an additional action to vote again. This applies in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.

New Polling Shows Tight Races in Key States

With just two weeks until the midterm elections, several key senate races across the country remain close, according to recent polling from RealClearPolitics.

In Georgia, incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock is leading over Republican Herschel Walker by only one percentage point, 46.5 to 45.5 as of Oct. 23.

Democrat John Fetterman is leading over Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz 47 to 45.5 percentage points in the competitive Pennsylvania senate race.

The incumbent Democrat in the Arizona senate race has a bigger lead over his Republican challenger. Senator Mark Kelly is leading over Blake Masters 46.5 to 44 percentage points as of Oct. 19.

Nevada's senate race has grown tighter in recent days.

Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has shorted Republican challenger Adam Laxalt's lead to just 0.8 percentage points. As of Oct. 19, Laxalt is leading 47.3 to 46.5 percentage points.

Cortez Masto was leading from August until Sept. 13 when Laxalt took the lead.

Since the end of September, Republican Senator Ron Johnson has overtaken the lead in the Wisconsin senate race.

Democrat Mandela Barnes held a firm lead of over five percentage points in polls conducted between mid August until the end of September. By Sept. 20, Johnson took the lead which has steadily grown since. Johnson is currently leading Barnes 49.8 to 46.8 percentage points.

In Ohio, Republican JD Vance has maintained the lead over Democratic Senator Tim Ryan.

While the lead shrunk throughout the end of September to mid October, it grew again since Oct. 16. Vance now leads over Ryan 47.5 to 45.5 as of Oct. 24.

John Fetterman, Mehmet Oz to Debate Tonight

Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz will meet Tuesday evening for a debate as Pennsylvania voters decide who will become their state's next senator.

Fetterman currently serves as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor. He and Oz, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump earlier this year, are running in what has become one of the most-watched races of this election season.

This will be the only debate between Fetterman and Oz before Election Day. The debate is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET. The Harrisburg-based television news station WHTM-TV is hosting the debate at its studio and will be airing it live. The debate will also be streaming on the station's website.

The candidates' health is expected to be a focal point for the debate in light of the stroke Fetterman had in the spring. Oz has questioned whether Fetterman will be able to fulfill his duties in the U.S. Senate in light of his recent health issues. Oz's New Jersey home is also expected to be a point of discussion, with Fetterman having questioned why Oz is running for a role in which he would represent Pennsylvania.

WATCH: New Hampshire Gubernatorial Debate Underway

New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu and his Democratic challenger Tom Sherman are discussing key issues in a debate right now, exactly two weeks ahead of midterm elections.

The debate began at 12 p.m. ET in Durham, hosted by New Hampshire PBS.

Watch live on the New Hampshire PBS YouTube page or below:

DeSantis Refuses to Commit to Serving Full Term as Governor

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis refused to answer if he will commit to serving a full term as governor if re-elected.

DeSantis is a likely 2024 presidential candidate who has teased that he will run for the GOP nomination. Some polls have even indicated that he has a major lead over former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical Republican primary matchup in Florida.

On the debate stage Monday, Crist asked DeSantis to "look in the eyes of the people of the state of Florida" and say if he would serve a full four-year term as governor if re-elected.

"It's not a tough question," Crist added. "It's a fair question; he won't tell you."

DeSantis did not give a direct answer to the question.

"The only worn-out old donkey I'm looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist," he said.

Florida Democrats responded on Twitter, saying "Why run if you can't commit to finishing the job? Floridians deserve better."

Republicans, however, showed their support for DeSantis.

Republican Jimmy Patronis, chief financial officer of Florida, praised DeSantis' response, calling the governor's reaction the "best line of the night."

Rebecca Downs, an editor for Townhall, said that Crist had broken the rules of debate by asking the question, adding that "DeSantis was not required to answer."

Republicans Lead Democrats on Inflation, Crime

A larger percentage of American voters trust Republicans more than Democrats to address inflation and crime ahead of the midterm elections, according to a new poll released by ABC News and Ipsos.

Registered voters contacted last week to participate in the poll were asked whether they trust Democrats or Republicans to "do a better job handling" a variety of issues. On inflation, 38 percent of respondents said they trusted Republicans more, while 21 percent said they trusted Democrats and 34 percent said they trusted neither party on inflation. Republicans also led Democrats 38 percent to 24 percent on the economy in general.

When posed the same question about crime, 37 percent of respondents said they trusted Republicans more and 22 percent said they trusted Democrats. Republicans also had a five-point lead on immigration, a three-point lead on taxes and a 17-point lead on gas prices. In contrast, Democrats had a six-point lead when asked which party voters would trust more to handle the Russia-Ukraine war, and had leads of 14 to 23 points on abortion, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and gun violence.

The economy and inflation were identified by pollsters as "major issues" heading into the midterm elections, which are now two weeks away with early voting already underway in many states. Pollsters said that Republicans' leads on the economy, inflation and crime were similar to the numbers shown in another ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted in August, though they noted that Democrats' lead over Republicans on abortion has increased since the earlier poll.

Races Remain Tight for Nevada Governor, Senate

Early voting is underway across Nevada, where contests remain tight for the Governor's mansion and a Senate seat the GOP hopes will flip to red.

At the center is Las Vegas, located in Clark County, with about 1.3 million registered voters. Early voting opened over the weekend. Nearly 32,000 people have already voted as of Tuesday morning, according to the Clark County Election Department.

Over the weekend, about 19,000 voters cast ballots in-person and another 41,500 voters mailed in their ballots, the Associated Press reported. Among those who mailed in ballots, about 20,000 were from registered Democrats, with nearly 10,600 from Republicans.

While the economy is a major issue for voters nationwide, it is especially important in Las Vegas. Nevada had the highest unemployment rate in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, topping 28%. Las Vegas was hit hard, as the entertainment, accommodation and food service industries were forced to close, leaving tens of thousands out of work.

Races to Watch:

The final campaign push is underway for two tightly contested races – Nevada Governor and the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Catherine Cortez-Masto.

U.S. Senate: The seat currently held by Masto is considered one of the best chances for the GOP to flip a blue seat red. Masto, the first Latina in the U.S. Senate, is facing off against Republican Adam Laxalt. Laxalt is a former attorney general, grandson of former Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada and endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Nevada Governor: Another tightly contested race is for Nevada governor, between current Governor Steve Sisolak, pictured left, and opponent Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, pictured right. Lombardo also received a Trump-endorsement; the former President recently campaigned in the state for both he and Laxalt.

Nearly 7.3 Million Ballots Already Cast in 39 States

Over seven million ballots have already been cast across 39 states, according to data from election officials, Edison Research and Catalist.

With nearly 7.3 million ballots already cast, this years' early voting is on pace with the 2018 midterms, the highest midterm voting turnout in recent history.

Florida has the most ballot casts among those states, with more than one million. Georgia is a close second with 800,000 ballots casts amid competitive Senate races.

In Georgia have more early voting ballots cast than at this point in the 2020 and 2018 elections, according to Catalist. Black voters have made up 35 percent of the pre-election ballot cast share, up from 33 percent at this point in the 2020 election and 32 percent in 2018.

Currently, and in 2020, white Georgia voters have cast 60 percent of the early ballots. This is down from 64 percent at this time in 2018.

The early voting ballot share from black voters in Pennsylvania is down from this point in the 2020 election. About 88 percent of the ballots casts so far are from white voters and only seven percent have come from black voters. This is down from 2018, when white voters made up 81 percent of the pre-election ballot and black voters made up 13 percent.

Black voters in Michigan have also cast a smaller share of early votes than at this point two years ago. Black voters cast 10 percent of pre-election votes so far, down from 12 percent in 2020 and up from nine percent in 2018. White voters in Michigan have casts 86 percent of pre-election voters so far, up from 83 percent in 2020 and down from 88 percent in 2018.

Early voting has also begun in Wisconsin, amid ongoing lawsuits impacting which ballots are counted and recent bans on drop boxes.

DeSantis Leads Over Crist Amid Heated Debate

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took on Democratic challenger Charlie Crist in a televised debate Monday night.

The two candidates discussed the governor's response to Hurricane Ian.

Crist said DeSantis was "AWOL" before the storm made landfall while the governor touted his efforts to quickly enact recovery and relief programs across the state.

DeSantis also defended his COVID-19 pandemic response, saying he kept Florida "free" by reopening schools and businesses.

Crist, however, said DeSantis opened the state "too early," noting the 82,000 Floridians lost to COVID.

The candidates also debated the ongoing culture issues in the state.

Crist said DeSantis wants to divide Floridians on issues like the "Don't Say Gay" bill and banning transgender girls from women's sports.

DeSantis said he wants to defend parents and students by forbidding teachers from discussing gender or LGBTQ issues with children.

When the moderators asked DeSantis about abortion rights, one person in the crowd was heard shouting "liar" with other members of the crowd heard growning while the governor spoke.

Moderator Liz Quirantes asked DeSantis to explain when abortions should be banned, noting Florida's current ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy that does not allow for an exception in the case of rape or incest.

DeSantis said he is "proud" of the 15-week ban and accused Crist of opposing the ban "even though the baby is fully formed, has a heartbeat, can feel pain and suck their thumb."

It was at this point that someone in the crowd shouted "liar." DeSantis continued that Crist supports sex-elective abortions and dismemberment abortions where "they will literally tear the baby limb from limb."

Crist argued DeSantis was not telling the truth and maintained that he supports a woman's right to choose, adding exceptions to the state's 15-week abortion ban.

Gun laws were a point of agreement between the candidates. Both Crist and DeSantis agrees that Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should have received the death penalty for killing 17 people in 2018.

According to FiveThrityEight, DeSantis holds an eight-point lead over Crist in the national average of polls.