The candidates fielded questions from moderators Ken Boddie and Lisa Balick on a broad slate of topics, including healthcare, taxes, workplace safety, data centers and immigration enforcement.

Braun and Gluesenkamp Perez offered similar stances on some issues — both said they support vote-by-mail and temporarily freezing the federal gas tax, while neither supports a federal moratorium on data centers.

That didn’t stop them from relentlessly attacking each other. Braun referred to Gluesenkamp Perez derogatorily as a “D.C. politician” seven times, while Gluesenkamp Perez repeatedly argued Braun’s loyalty lies with President Donald Trump, who has endorsed the longtime state lawmaker.

The daylight between the candidates expanded when Balick asked them about their stance on the SAVE America Act, a Republican-led bill aimed at overhauling U.S. election administration rules by tightening proof-of-citizenship and photo identification requirements.

Braun said he supports the bill, while Gluesenkamp Perez — despite voting for an earlier version of the bill — stood by her February decision to vote against its latest form, which added voter ID requirements.

The candidates were also asked about their positions on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

Braun opened his answer by blaming the Biden administration’s border policy, and added that he’d like to see deportations focus mainly on those who committed crimes. He also argued that “local and state law enforcement be allowed to cooperate professionally with federal law enforcement.”

For her part, Gluesenkamp Perez emphasized the need for secure borders.

“But I also know that the reason that people come here is because we’re a country of law and order. That matters to us, and that goes for everybody,” she said. “We want to see federal law enforcement follow these same high standards.”