Unbelievable: Kari Lake Left Standing Alone as Opponent Refuses to Face Her in First Debate!

Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) appears to be running scared. After initially agreeing to at least one debate with conservative firebrand Kari Lake, the Arizona Democrat shockingly backed out, leaving an empty chair behind—literally. In a move that’s sure to haunt his campaign, Gallego didn’t show up for what could have been the only debate of their U.S. Senate race, a high-profile contest that could decide control of the Senate.

A clip circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows the awkward moment when the moderator confirmed, “Ms. Lake accepted the invitation. Mr. Gallego declined.” For an entire hour, Kari Lake had the stage to herself, delivering her message while an empty chair sat in Gallego’s place—a perfect metaphor for what she later called his “fear of facing the voters.”

In a statement, Lake didn’t hold back: “Ruben Gallego’s ducking the first debate is just another move from a politician too scared to defend his disastrous record.” Ouch. Lake went on to say that if Gallego can’t handle a debate now, voters should ask themselves if he’ll be able to fight for them in Washington. She’s been positioning herself as the no-nonsense leader Arizona needs—someone unafraid to tackle tough issues head-on. Her message to Gallego was clear: “I’ll never back down from a fight.”

So, what gives? Well, reports suggest Gallego may have more to worry about than just his debating skills. According to the Arizona Globe, he’s trying to keep the details of his recent divorce under wraps, a move that’s already raising eyebrows. Reporters have uncovered that Gallego left his ex-wife while she was pregnant, a revelation that’s starting to gain traction in the media. The Washington Free Beacon is even pushing to unseal Gallego’s divorce records, arguing it’s in the public interest. Gallego’s camp isn’t too eager to comment on any of it, only offering a canned statement about respecting privacy.

Meanwhile, Kari Lake is riding high, with supporters filling her campaign coffers and Senate Republicans lining up behind her. Polls show Gallego still has a slight edge in Arizona, but with Trump leading Kamala Harris by 3% in the state, Lake could ride those coattails right into the Senate.

Gallego’s decision to skip the debate doesn’t just look bad—it raises questions about what else he’s avoiding. If he can’t face Kari Lake, how’s he going to face the voters?