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At a Congressional District 3 debate Wednesday night at the University of Arizona, the Republican nominee, repeatedly deflected questions regarding his statement that Grijalva was a 鈥渘ot a good example of a Mexican American, and he鈥檚 not a good example of an American.鈥�

During the debate and in a press gaggle with reporters, Pierson insisted that his comments were not racial and were being twisted.

鈥淚t is not about ethnicity, it is about values,鈥� Pierson told reporters. 鈥淵ou guys are taking it way out of context. I come from a family with a strong Mexican-American heritage.鈥�

Asked whether values would play a role in who would be deported under his Red, White and Blue immigration plan, Pierson said that only criminals would be deported.

Pressed on whether there would be other requirements for residency or citizenship like being able to work, a representative for the campaign abruptly ended the press conference after roughly seven minutes.

During the debate 鈥� organized by AZPM in partnership with 51黑料网, and KJZZ 鈥� Pierson repeatedly focused his answers on Grijalva鈥檚 ethics and integrity in office.

鈥淎 leader wouldn鈥檛 be settling a $48,000 lawsuit with taxpayer money or showing up to work drunk on the job,鈥� Pierson said.

Grijalva noted the settlement isn鈥檛 related in any way to sexual harassment and he asked for an ethics investigation which ended in a recommendation to dismiss the complaint.

He then challenged Pierson to find former staffers that would be willing to say that he shows up to work drunk.

鈥淭here are 200 employees I鈥檝e worked with since I鈥檝e been in Congress. There are numerous individuals and organizations I鈥檝e worked with,鈥� he said.

The election of President Trump, Grijalva argues, has largely normalized deeply personal attacks in an attempt to deflect on issues facing the district.

Pierson also criticized the source of Grijalva鈥檚 donations, saying they don鈥檛 come from the district.

鈥淭hey come from New York City, man, and Washington D.C.,鈥� Pierson said with a New York accent.

During the debate, Pierson noted that he鈥檇 like to see some federal lands in Arizona put into the state land trust, hinting that their eventual sale would help the state鈥檚 educational system.

The state land trust regularly sells parcels, primarily for development, with the proceeds of the sale going to public schools.

Grijalva pushed back on the narrative, saying public lands should continue to be protected and criticized decisions by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to downsize several monuments.

鈥淩ight now, this administration has made public lands a one-dimensional resource for extraction 鈥� oil, gas, and mining,鈥� Grijalva said.

Meeting with reporters, Grijalva said Pierson鈥檚 immigration proposal was largely unworkable, noting that he鈥檇 have a hard time convincing Republicans to back it.

He said Pierson鈥檚 proposal is better than other Republican plans but says Republicans in Congress and Trump are mainly responsible for inaction on comprehensive immigration reform for the last two years.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have the confidence,鈥� Grijalva said, arguing that Republicans have made immigration a wedge issue for this election cycle.