Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Republican Sam Brown duked it out during their first and only debate on Thursday night, making their pitches to voters in one of the key battleground states on the 2024 map and a must-win state for Democratic Senate majority hopes.

Rosen, a first-term senator, has held a steady lead throughout the cycle over the retired Army captain, buoyed by a fundraising and spending advantage that has helped keep Brown at arm’s length ever since his primary victory in June.

The GOP nominee, who lost his bid for the party’s Senate nod two years ago, has repeatedly struggled to gather momentum in the race despite former President Trump’s strength in the Battle Born State. Some Nevada GOP officials have argued that his lack of familiarity with state issues will cost him as he only moved there six years ago.

The debate also took place at a crucial time. Early voting kicks off on Saturday in Nevada.

Here are five takeaways from the Nevada Senate debate.

It's the economy

Nevada is widely considered to have had one of the more sluggish economic recoveries after the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s economic standing is among the biggest issues in the Senate race.

Moderators opened the hour-long event with a question on how each candidate would help curb the pocketbook pinch Nevadans are facing.

The incumbent Democrat criticized the possibility of a merger between Kroger’s and Albertsons, the state’s two main grocers, arguing that would only further increase the price of food and goods and would cost the state jobs. She also laid blame at the feet of oil companies, with Nevada having one of the highest prices per gallon of any state, and cited the ongoing housing shortage.

“The grocery chains, the big oil — they’re making record profits quarter after quarter,” she said.

Brown attempted to paint Rosen as out of touch and argued she doesn’t have her finger on the pulse of everyday Nevadans.

At 5.5 percent,........

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