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Todd Rokita, Destiny Wells spar in lone debate of race for Indiana attorney general

A screenshot of the Indiana attorney general candidate debate. Destiny Wells is a White woman with dark hair. She is wearing a dark blue jacket and top. Todd Rokita is a White man with dark, graying hair. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt and light blue and white tie.
Screenshot of CBS 4
Indianapolis TV stations FOX 59/CBS 4 hosted the lone attorney general candidate debate between Democrat Destiny Wells, left, and Republican Todd Rokita, right.

The lone debate in Indiana’s attorney general race was a contentious one, as Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita regularly interrupted and argued with Democrat Destiny Wells.

Indianapolis TV stations FOX 59/CBS 4 hosted the Sunday morning debate, with questions about immigration, social media and abortion.

Rokita regularly sought to tie Wells to national Democratic policies, many of which he’s fought as attorney general.

He was also asked about the Supreme Court reprimand he received last year for his conduct — and he said he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I agreed with the Supreme Court to settle the matter, so we can stop it from being a distraction,” Rokita said. “That’s what that was about.”

READ MORE: Democrat Destiny Wells discusses role of attorney general, top priorities in race

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Wells said Rokita can’t keep himself within the rules of professional conduct.

“Taxpayers are having to pay over $100,000 just to defend him in front of the disciplinary commission,” Wells said.

Asked at the end of the debate to say something nice about each other, Rokita called Wells a fighter. Wells said Rokita “stays in it for the long haul.”

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

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Brandon Smith has covered the Statehouse for Indiana Public Broadcasting for more than a decade, spanning three governors and a dozen legislative sessions. He's also the host of Indiana Week in Review, a weekly political and policy discussion program seen and heard across the state. He previously worked at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri and WSPY in Plano, Illinois. His first job in radio was in another state capitol - Jefferson City, Missouri - as a reporter for three stations around the Show-Me State.