MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on the first debate between Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel and Democratic challenger Josh Kaul (all times local):
7:45 p.m.
Democratic attorney general hopeful Josh Kaul is tweaking Republican incumbent Brad Schimel for taking too long to test thousands of unanalyzed sexual assault kits during their first debate.
The state Department of Justice received federal grants to begin testing thousands of kits sitting on police and hospital shelves in 2015. Testing wasn’t complete until this September. Schimel says it took time to inventory the kits and find private labs with capacity to test them.
Kaul began a debate with Schimel on Friday by accusing him of mishandling the kits and allowing dangerous criminals to roam the streets when they could have been identified sooner through the testing. He also chided Schimel for spending money on DOJ promotional material rather than prioritizing the kits.
Schimel countered that the testing is done and he solved a decades-long problem in three years. He also said he has reduced the threshold for spending on promotional items.
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4:40 p.m.
Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel and Democratic challenger Josh Kaul probably couldn’t have picked a worse night for their first debate, at least if they want anyone to see it.
The candidates are set to square off at UW-Madison Friday night. The proceedings will be broadcast on Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio.
The debate is set to begin at 7:30 p.m., twenty minutes after the Milwaukee Brewers take the field against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park.
The debate is also competing with the last night of the Wisconsin high school football regular season.
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3 p.m.
Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel and Democratic challenger Josh Kaul are getting ready for the first debate.
They’re set to meet tonight at UW-Madison for a debate sponsored by Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio. Moderators Federica Freyberg and Shawn Johnson will moderate and the candidates will take submitted questions from the public.
Kaul almost certainly will attack Schimel for taking too long to test unanalyzed sexual assault kits, not doing enough to curb opioid abuse or improve school safety. Schimel likely will work to paint Kaul as inexperienced outsider, keying on Kaul’s East Coast background.
The candidates are set to debate twice more before Election Day.
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