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Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke faced off in their first and only televised candidate debate on Friday as the two battle for the Texas governor’s seat in a closely watched election.
The candidates covered a number of topics, such as immigration reform, gun violence, and abortion, as the two sought to paint the other as an extremist who is out of touch with Texas voters. The debate is important for O’Rourke as the former congressman trails Abbott in the polls, offering the Democrat a last-ditch effort to reach voters before Election Day.
Here are the top four moments from the hourlong debate on Friday:
Front and center: Night begins with questions on immigration
The night began with questions focused on immigration reform, a hot topic in Texas as Abbott has made headlines for months after busing thousands of illegal immigrants to cities such as Washington, D.C., and New York City.