New York Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan and his Republican challenger Allison Esposito faced off in a prime-time debate Wednesday night, with both candidates explaining how they would help boost the economy and fight inflation.
The showdown between the two candidates for the 18th Congressional District touched on immigration, abortion and the war between Israel and Ukraine, but Mr. Ryan and Mr. Esposito specifically fought over affordability.
Asked what he would do to lower prices, Esposito, a former New York City police deputy inspector general and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin's running mate, said he would cut red tape, cut taxes, He said he would increase domestic energy production.
“What we have to do is roll back regulations. We have to reduce taxes on the American people and take government's hands out of their pockets. In fact, let alone New York State alone. , the entire country can become energy independent,” Esposito said.
Ryan pointed to the measures he has pushed to reduce the cost of housing, medicine and groceries.
“Housing is the number one cost driver in our communities. I have proposed legislation to lower interest rates and mortgage rates, and I have asked the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. “The Reserve Board's request will take some of the pressure off,” Ryan said.
He also cited caps on state and local tax deductions that then-President Donald Trump introduced in 2017 as part of his tax cuts.
The maximum amount of state and local taxes that high-income earners can deduct from their federal taxes is capped at $10,000.
“This is double taxation for New Yorkers, and just to be clear, President Trump actually put this in place,” Ryan said.
Mr. Esposito said he supported lifting the cap, but criticized Mr. Ryan for not getting it done in the past two years.
“Actions speak louder than words,” Esposito said. “He had the authority to vote to raise the SALT cap and he did not do so.”
The two candidates had a heated exchange over immigration policy, which was the first question posed by the host Wednesday night.
Ryan said he believes President Biden needs to do more on border security and immigration policy, but Esposito reiterated his usual accusation that the congressman is a “rubber stamp” for the administration.
“We need legal, legal immigration, we need proper immigration reform, but what's going on right now with President Biden and the Harris administration's open border policy, my opponent is being rubber stamped. “This is absolutely unsustainable,” Esposito said.
Esposito said he doesn't support a federal ban on abortion, but that each state should enact its own law. She said she is “not aware” of any state that forces pregnancy, even in cases of rape.
“I'm a non-government person, nothing more. Local control. You vote for your elected officials in each state, and the laws are made,” Esposito said.
Ryan, who supports the Women's Equality Act, which would restore abortion policies essentially similar to Roe v. Wade, said eliminating the Senate filibuster rule should be “on the table.”
Vice President Harris recently said she supports eliminating the 60-vote threshold needed in a 100-member chamber to pass policies to address abortion legislation.
In the early evening hours, the candidates were asked whether they would support the Mets or the Yankees ahead of their World Series matchup, to which the candidates answered in the opposite direction.
“My Yankees are 2-0, so I hope they carry that over,” Ryan said.
“It's very difficult sometimes because I'm a Mets fan, but yeah,” Esposito said.
The 18th District is one of New York's most competitive seats. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report calls him a “lean Democrat.”
