MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Republican challenger Eric Toney argued over federal power, election data and public safety during a televised debate Sunday that may be their only face-to-face contest before November’s election. Kaul, a Democrat seeking another term, defended joining more than 70 lawsuits against the Trump administration over the past two years, including legal fights involving federal funding, birthright citizenship and absentee voting. He said the lawsuits protect Wisconsinites from actions that violate the law. Toney, the Fond du Lac County district attorney, said his decisions as attorney general would be based on facts and law, rather than which party controls the White House or governor’s office. He said he would have joined a federal case concerning participation by women and girls in sports. The candidates also addressed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking Wisconsin voter data. State officials have rejected the request, and the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has said turning over the information would be illegal. The administration says it wants the data to prevent fraud and ensure noncitizens are not voting. Toney said he would defend state laws but would review the question with attorneys in the Department of Justice. Kaul said the state could not lawfully provide the requested information and argued the federal government was seeking broad personal data, not information needed to prosecute illegal voting. The state crime lab’s growing turnaround times drew a sharp exchange. A recent state audit found delays have continued to increase, while a Department of Justice report showed average DNA test processing time rose from 84 days in 2022 to 129 days in 2024. Kaul blamed lawmakers for not approving the staffing he requested. He sought 16 additional crime lab positions in the 2023-25 budget, but the final budget funded three. In the latest budget, he requested 19 positions and received none. Kaul said the requests included DNA analysts and accused the Legislature of withholding needed resources. Toney countered that Kaul had received additional positions in an earlier budget but had not filled them, and pointed to a hiring freeze. Kaul disputed both characterizations, saying the earlier positions were not DNA analyst jobs and that the Department of Justice was hiring. Toney said records obtained through a public-records request supported his claims. Both candidates said statewide rules are needed for Flock cameras, which scan license plates and have been used by police to investigate crimes. Toney said the cameras have helped identify suspects but that privacy and investigation concerns require action from the Legislature and governor. Kaul called for limits on the offenses for which the technology can be used, restrictions on data disclosure, regular audits and penalties for misuse. He also said the cameras can help locate missing people and solve crimes. On gun policy and crime, Kaul backed expanded background checks and a red-flag law, which would allow a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone found to pose a danger. He said overall crime in Wisconsin was at its lowest level in decades and violent crime at its lowest since 2011, while arguing the state still needs stronger public-safety measures. Toney cited a rise in homicides and drug deaths during Kaul’s tenure and opposed the proposed gun measures, pointing instead to existing procedures for addressing firearm access when someone has a mental illness. He argued that improving crime-lab performance would help law enforcement. The debate aired on “UPFRONT,” a program produced in partnership with WisPolitics.