The hour-long debate, hosted by WKYT and broadcast by other Gray Media stations, put the Republican and Democrat on stage in Lexington less than two weeks before Election Day. Early voting in Kentucky begins Oct. 29.

Barr repeatedly cast Booker as a democratic socialist, citing his support for Medicare for All and accusing him of backing efforts to defund police. Booker rejected the police accusation and said he supports capitalism, but believes it should work for ordinary people. He described Barr as part of a Washington establishment beholden to corporate interests.

Barr argued Booker would struggle to work across party lines in the Senate because of his policies. Booker said Barr’s attacks were meant to stoke fear, and pointed to corporate political action committee support for Barr. Barr defended the contributions, saying supporters were acting freely.

The candidates also clashed over the U.S. war in Iran, where two Kentucky service members, Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt and Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, have been killed this year.

Barr said the United States had largely achieved its military objectives but still needed to restore oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the country owed it to fallen service members to finish the job and characterized President Donald Trump as ending a decades-long conflict with Iran.

Booker called for U.S. service members to come home and accused Barr of allowing the administration to continue the war without sufficient congressional oversight. Barr voted in September against a House war powers resolution aimed at ending the conflict.

On affordability, Barr blamed Democrats for inflation and said tax cuts and expanded U.S. energy production could lower costs. He criticized Booker’s support for the Green New Deal, arguing it would undermine fossil-fuel energy and raise prices. Booker countered that the cost of groceries and gasoline had increased while Barr was in office and said voters should hold the congressman accountable.

The discussion also touched on the growth of data centers and the effects of artificial intelligence on jobs and utility bills. Barr said the United States must compete with China in AI, while supporting local decision-making and opposing higher power bills for residents when data centers move into their communities. He also said AI should not threaten workers’ jobs.

Booker called for a moratorium on new data center construction and federal protections for children, older adults and vulnerable communities. He accused Barr of benefiting from telecom industry backing. Federal election records cited in the debate show a pro-AI super PAC contributed to another political committee that has independently spent money supporting Barr.

The debate was moderated by WKYT’s Bill Bryant and DRB+WAVE’s Lindsay Allen. Kentucky voters will choose between Barr and Booker on Nov. 3.