Democratic incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican challenger state Rep. Geoff Diehl met face to face for the second time in two days Sunday evening, this time in Springfield for a debate that took on a much more measured tone than the first and focused heavily on local issues.
The roughly one-hour debate moderated by WGBY’s Carrie Saldo, touched on a series of policy areas impacting western Massachusetts such as the state’s nascent marijuana business and expansion of the commuter rail service. The issues of social security and tenor of politics also provided for moments of stark disagreement between Warren and Diehl.
Warren, of Cambridge, frequently returned to her record in Congress as a reason she deserved another term and Diehl touted his knowledge of local issues and record as a state legislator from Whitman as an example of him being more in sync with Massachusetts voters.
On marijuana, Diehl and Warren both affirmed that the budding industry is vital to Western Massachusetts and believed the federal government, which outlaws the drug, should offer leniency to state that have legalized it.
“I think it can provide revenue, of course for the state, and I think it could provide jobs, obviously in our state as well. But at the same time, I want to make sure we don’t go about it in a way that’s reckless,” said Diehl, who noted he believes legalization is state’s rights issue.
The Republican added that he disagreed with the legislature’s decision to raise the tax on marijuana, arguing that doing that promotes a black market for the drug and making it harder for law enforcement.
Warren offered a more Washington-focused answer, touting a bipartisan bill she and Republican Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner have worked on that would ease federal pressure on state’s that have legalized marijuana.
“Why isn’t it law? Because right now the Republican majority with Mitch McConnell won’t bring it to a vote. So, if we actually want to see this solved we need a Democratic majority in the Senate,” she said before pivoting to highlight her legislative prowess in the Trump era.
Diehl retorted that Warren’s example was actually an argument for sending a Republican to Washington who can convince a Republican senate using the successes in marijuana policy in Massachusetts.
Warren later used the Republican Congress as a foil when the topic turned to expanding commuter rail options between Western Massachusetts and Boston.
“When they talk about ‘oh they have some infrastructure plan,’ turns out, it’s not real. It’s all smoke and mirrors,” she said. “The Republicans, Donald Trump, Mr. Diehl says make it work better and better for a thinner and thinner slice at the top instead of making the investments infrastructure that we need right here in Western Massachusetts.”
Diehl offered public-private partnerships as a solution to funding rail service and took a jab at Warren for past comments she has made about private-industry.
“I know Senator Warren said you didn’t build that when she first ran for office — she said it was government roads. Well, I have to tell you, it was the machine shops in Springfield and Holyoke, it was the shoe factories in Brockton, it was the fishing industry in Gloucester and New Bedford. That’s what built the private schools and private hospitals that first took care of people — provided the money to build those roads.”
But like most things in politics these days, many of the night’s jabs involved each candidate’s relationship with President Donald Trump.
For her part, Warren attempted to stay on offense by tying Diehl’s steadfast support for the president and his past role on Trump’s campaign, at every turn. Diehl, throughout the debate, repeatedly returned to his attack that Warren is more interested in taking on President Donald Trump in 2020 than representing Massachusetts for another six year term and knocked her for her out-of-state travel.
Asked about the tenor of Washington and controversial nicknames and comments made by the President, Diehl said “I certainly don’t follow the same path the president does in how I legislate, how I deal with people,” before pivoting to knock Warren for making past controversial comments about law enforcement.
Warren, when asked about her record of name calling, admitted to it but argued that disparaging comments made by Trump are often targeted at groups of people.
The debate was not without an unexpected moment. During an exchange where Diehl and Warren chided each other on Trump and his response to Puerto Rico, a protestor wearing a t-shirt promoting the independent Senate candidate Shiva Ayyadurai interrupted the candidates forcing the debate to pause temporarily.
Ayyadurai has not participated in either of the debates between Diehl and Warren so far.
The general election is November 6.
