By MORGAN LEE, Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Republican candidate for Senate from New Mexico, who opposes recreational marijuana, acknowledged during a rambunctious debate Friday that he had smoked it.

A Libertarian candidate warned that young people are "getting screwed" by federal debt, and the Democratic incumbent said some tax cuts by President Donald Trump should be reversed.

Other topics at the debate ran the gamut from gun control to Trump's response to a migrant caravan headed north through Mexico.

Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is seeking re-election to a second term, casting himself as a defender of federal health care and retirement programs.

He accused Republican candidate Mick Rich and Libertarian Gary Johnson of hypocrisy for talking about fiscal responsibility while embracing tax cuts by Trump.

Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico and two-time Libertarian presidential candidate, reveled in the debate's free-flowing format, providing running commentary while others talked.

Rich said a "realignment" committee is needed to trim unnecessary areas of federal government, such as the Department of Education.

Johnson interrupted with the words "nibbling, nibbling," and said much more needs to be done to reduce federal spending, including major cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and the military. He repeated the refrain again and again that young people are getting hurt by deficit spending that they eventually will pay.

All the candidates answered affirmatively when asked if they had ever smoke pot. Rich alone opposes legalization. Johnson said he still uses recreational marijuana occasionally, while Heinrich said he hasn't for a long time.

"When you become an adult and you have kids, you try and set a different example," the 47-year-old senator said.

New Mexico has a medical marijuana program but penalizes recreational use.

Heinrich set himself apart from his opponents in offering support for a ban on assault weapons "based on form and function" and not appearance, noting that past ban proposals were poorly crafted.

He and Johnson expressed incredulity and disbelief as Rich warned that migrants were "amassing to charge our border," in reference to a caravan of migrants in southern Mexico making its way slowly north toward the U.S. Rich has expressed staunch support for Trump's border-wall project and hardline policies to limit legal and illegal immigration.

Heinrich said "hungry 5-year-old refugees do not constitute a threat."

Johnson has offered to act as an influential swing vote and voice for limited government in the Senate.

Republicans have a narrow 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats are defending 26 incumbent Senate seats.