ALBANY, N.Y. (WCAX) – Will northern New York voters pick a new U.S. senator on Election Day? Republican Mike Sapraicone, a retired NYPD detective, is taking on incumbent Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. For the first and only time, both candidates debated in Albany this week.
The candidates vying for the U.S. Senate took the stage this week at the University at Albany, focusing on issues like the economy, international conflicts, immigration, and housing.
“We need to build more housing. We need a lot more incentives,” Gillibrand said. “We need to make sure we put federal resources into it to use all of the programs for seniors, low-income people. I have a bill to put $150 billion into that.”
“We need to bring more industry. I mean, we need to stop stopping industry from coming here. We need to rebuild these cities and that’s how we keep our children here, that’s how we build up our economy. We need to bring small businesses in, make sure they get the incentives they need, and work with them to build a better stronger business and employ more people,” Sapraicone said.
On immigration, Sapraicone wants more to be done on the southern border and record illegal entries along the northern border. “We need to deport the people that are here illegally, who are criminals and start with that. And then take it from there on each invidual basis. That is what need to do — secure our borders, put the people who are criminals, here as criminals, and begin to deport them,” he said.
Gillibrand agrees migrants who commit crimes should be deported but adds lawmakers need to do more, including providing additional resources for border patrol, increasing the number of asylum judges, and allowing migrants to work. “It is most important the people who come to this country, who are seeking asylum and are trying to follow the legal process, are working. That is what has always worked in New York. It would benefit every part of our economy. And I am going to work with the governor and I am going to work with the White House to get those emergency visas issued,” she said.
Sapraicone also highlighted issues passing the Farm Bill, which is delayed due to funding concerns. “I think we need people to work across the aisle to make sure they understand what the bill is and work together with our farmers. I mean, agriculture is so big here in New York and the Midwest. These important things we need to pass,” he said.
Gillibrand agrees but says she doesn’t believe in cuts to food stamps, which she says have been proposed. “We have kids in foster care that should be eligible for foster care, should be eligible for SNAP benefits because when they age out at 18, there is no family to go home for Thanksgiving dinner or for a meal or for a weekend at all. So, we need to expand SNAP benefits,” she said.
Both candidates say they do not support Ukraine surrendering land to Russia and agree to Israel’s right to defend itself. “Israel is not just fighting a war for Israel, they are fighting a war for us. They are fighting a war against the West. Who is going to be next with what is going on with Iran,” Sapraicone said.
“If Israel decides they need to target some part of Iran’s infrastructure for nuclear weapons, for missile production, some cyber response, it is absolutely in their right to do that,” Gillibrand said.
Early voting in New York starts this Saturday.