Sen. Murray and Smiley clash over the issues in Spokane debate

Democratic Senator Patty Murray and Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley are back on the campaign trail Monday after Sunday's heated debate.

The debate took place at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Murray is campaigning to keep her job representing Washington state in the U.S. Senate, which she has held for nearly 30 years. Smiley has been running on that fact, calling Murray a career politician. Sunday night's debate showed just how far apart the two candidates are on the issues.

Both candidates were asked, twice, if they think humans are causing climate change.

"Yes, humans have an impact on this," Murray said, speaking about the need for more renewable energy.

Smiley did not say whether humans are causing climate change, but she did call for more fossil fuels.

"Unleashing our natural gas and our oil pipelines," she said, adding that we should work in the longer term to develop more clean energy sources.

When talking about the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Smiley said she's opposed to any federal law to either ban or protect the right to abortion. She supports states making that decision.

"The Supreme Court's decision gave the power to the people," she said. "And that's where I believe it belongs. I respect the will of the voters here in Washington state. So what I will do is ensure women do have access to health care, and have affordable access to contraception and childcare."

Murray said she supports a federal law to protect abortion rights. She said she would not leave the issue up to state governments to decide.

"I believe that every woman should be able to make her own health-care choices, about her own family, working with her doctor, her faith, and her own needs," Murray said. "This should not be decided by politicians."

Later in the debate, Smiley accused Murray and Democrats of being soft on crime. Murray says the American rescue plan is one way Democrats are helping local governments pay for policing.

On inflation, Smiley blamed Democrats for rising costs and pledged to reduce spending. Murray pointed out ways the Democrats are helping lower costs for things like prescription drugs.

The Jan. 6 Committee hearings also made it into the debate. Murray said that Smiley has previously promoted the "big lie" that the 2020 election was stolen.

Smiley countered by accusing Murray of questioning the 2004 election results. She said that Jan. 6 was heartbreaking for her, and her husband who lost his eyesight serving in the U.S. military.

"Those who broke the law should be held to the full extent of our judicial system and our law," Smiley said.

"No one questions her belief in our democracy or her husband's fight for our country, ever, but do not conflate that with misconstruing about the intent of insurrectionists who were using their brute force to overtake the peaceful transfer of power," Murray said.

The candidates meet again in Seattle next Sunday, Oct. 30, for a forum at Town Hall.

KUOW's Dyer Oxley contributed to this article.