A Republican lawmaker in Minnesota is under fire for snatching the microphone away from his Democratic rival during a debate.

Four-term state Rep. Duane Quam was debating political newcomer Jamie Mahlberg of the DFL, the Minnesota affiliate of the Democratic Party, on Monday when the incident occurred.

The two had been passing a single microphone back and forth, sharing their thoughts on a wide variety of issues. However, as Mahlberg was answering a question about linking education funding to the Consumer Price Index, Quam raised a card indicating he would like a rebuttal. Instead of waiting for Mahlberg to pass him the mic, he seized it from her hands, causing her to recoil in surprise: