[THEME MUSIC] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND HER REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE BRUCE BLAKEMAN FACED OFF IN THEIR FIRST AND ONLY TELEVISED DEBATE OF ELECTION SEASON.

THIS DEBATE WAS HOSTED BY SPECTRUM NEWS AND LASTED FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

THE CANDIDATES TRADED BLOWS OVER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, THE ALLEDGED RAPE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, IMMIGRATION POLICY, AND THE STATE'S COST OF LIVING.

TO UNPACK THE DEBATE AND THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE CANDIDATES, WE ARE JOINED BY ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES, AS WELL AS AUSTIN JEFFERSON OF STREETSBLOG NYC.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME BACK ON THE SHOW TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> MY PLEASURE.

> OF COURSE.

NOW, THIS WEEK WE SAW THE FIRST AND ONLY TELEVISED DEBATE BETWEEN GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRUCE BLAKEMAN.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BIG MOMENTS AND FIGHTS OF THE DEBATE, I WANTED TO JUST GET YOUR GENERAL TAKEAWAYS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> WELL, IT FELT LIKE TO ME THAT BRUCE BLAKEMAN, HE REALLY WANTED TO ATTACH SORT OF MIGRANTS AND I THINK JUST GROWING FEAR AROUND WHATEVER MAMDANI MIGHT BE DOING IN NEW YORK CITY TO HOCHUL WITH MIXED EFFECT.

BUT THAT SEEMED TO BE HIS PRIMARY STRATEGY GOING THROUGH MOST OF THE DEBATE.

>> SURE.

HOW ABOUT YOU, ALEX?

>> I THINK THE DEBATE WAS KIND OF LIKE A RORSCHACH TEST FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I SEE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES SAYING BLAKEMAN WON, HOCHUL WON.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A CLEAR WINNER.

I THINK BOTH OF THEM CAME IN VERY CLEARLY WITH, YOU KNOW, WRITTEN DOWN POINTS THAT THEY WANTED TO HIT.

AND THEY MANAGED TO HIT THEM.

THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO TIE BLAKEMAN TO TRUMP.

THAT WAS REALLY THE THEME OF HER DEBATE.

AND BLAKEMAN, YEAH, HE BROUGHT UP MAMDANI.

IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT HE BROUGHT HIM UP EVENTUALLY.

AND HE REALLY HELD KATHY HOCHUL TO HER RECORD OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THAT WAS HIS MAIN FOCUS.

>> SURE.

YEAH.

AND GOING OFF OF THAT, I WAS INTRIGUED BECAUSE I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, I WAS SURPRISED TO NOT SEE ANY REAL PERSONAL ATTACKS FROM EITHER ONE OF THEM.

THEY SEEMED TO HAVE A PRETTY MEASURED APPROACH TO THEIR ATTACKS.

AND CERTAINLY, AS YOU SAID, THE GOVERNOR MADE IT A POINT TO LINK BLAKEMAN TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

SO WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT STRATEGY AND HOW BLAKEMAN WAS TRYING TO SORT OF PLAY DEFENSE IN THOSE MOMENTS?

>> I MEAN, IT CAME OFF TO ME AS THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO, I GUESS, GET PERSONAL.

I THINK BECAUSE OF THE SORT OF NATURAL DISADVANTAGE THAT BLAKEMAN'S AT IN A STATE LIKE NEW YORK.

SO I THINK IT WAS MORE ABOUT ATTACKING THE LINKS TO TRUMP AND REALLY HIS, I GUESS, STATEMENTS OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT HIS CHARACTER, WHICH I THINK IN SOME CASES TO A LOT OF NEW YORKERS WHO HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN FAMILIAR WITH BLAKEMAN FOR A WHILE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN LANDED THAT EFFECTIVELY.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE OTHER BIG MOMENTS OF THE DEBATE, WE SAW CERTAINLY THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY RAPE CASE COME UP IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BLAKEMAN TRYING TO SHIFT BLAME ONTO HOCHUL.

AND SHE REALLY, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT SHE REALLY DIDN'T ADDRESS IT HEAD ON.

SO WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT SPECIFIC MOMENT AND HOW THAT SPECIFIC CASE SHOWED UP IN THAT BIG NIGHT?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HOCHUL'S PRESENCE ON THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY BOARD IS BY NATURE OF THE FACT THAT CORNELL IS THE LAND GRANT INSTITUTION FOR NEW YORK.

IT'S COMPLICATED, BUT IT'S BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN NEW YORK HAS BEEN AROUND, IS THE BULK OF IT.

SO SHE HAS SOME POWER THERE.

I QUESTION, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE WATCHING PROBABLY WOULD QUESTION, WHETHER A TRUSTEE ON THE BOARD IS GETTING DETAILED INFORMATION ON CRIMES OCCURRING ON CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY CRIMES THAT, AS WE'VE HEARD THROUGH REPORTING, WERE SORT OF DOWNPLAYED, AT LEAST IN THE ORIGINAL SITUATION.

ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMES, I SHOULD SAY.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TIMELY TOPIC, THIS CORNELL CASE.

IT'S HITTING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'VE HEARD FAMILY FROM TEXAS TALKING ABOUT IT.

SO I THINK A BULK OF IT WAS BLAKEMAN REALLY WANTED TO TIE THAT RECENT VERY HIGH PROFILE SITUATION TO THE GOVERNOR, ADD IT TO THE LIST OF CRIMES THAT HE ACCUSES HER OF BEING SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING TO HAPPEN IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

>> AND IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO SEE COST OF LIVING AND AFFORDABILITY BE A BIG THEME THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE.

I THINK HOCHUL TRIED TO PULL ON BLAKEMAN'S RECORD, SPECIFICALLY SERVING AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN NASSAU COUNTY.

SO DID YOU THINK THAT SHE WAS EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF GETTING THAT ACROSS TO VOTERS IN TERMS OF HER MESSAGING?

>> I MEAN, I THINK SHE WAS RIGHT TO POUNCE ON BRUCE BLAKEMAN WHEN HE SEEMED TO BRAG ABOUT RISING HOME PRICES IN HIS COUNTY, WHICH I'M SURE ARE GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE HOMES.

BUT I THINK ANYONE TRYING TO LIVE IN NASSAU COUNTY WHO'S NOT A HOMEOWNER OR JUST A REGULAR PERSON ARE PROBABLY NOT PLEASED AT THE IDEA OF, YAY, IT'S GOOD THAT ME HAVING SHELTER COSTS MORE AND MORE EACH YEAR.

SO, I MEAN, I THINK AS FAR AS COST OF LIVING GOES, THAT WAS DEFINITELY SMART OF HER TO SAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE SORT OF HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS NASSAU COUNTY, AS A LOT OF LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK ARE, IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABILITY BEING TOP OF MIND, WHAT HAS BLAKEMAN DONE TO ADVANCE AFFORDABILITY IN HIS OWN COUNTY BEYOND NOT RAISING TAXES?

I THINK THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT TO POINT OUT THAT HIS RECORD ON THAT IS THIN.

AND WHAT CAN A COUNTY EXECUTIVE DO?

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AS WELL, BUT THE MATERIAL THINGS THAT HE HAS SOME LEVEL OF INPUT AND CONTROL OVER HELPING BUILD MORE HOUSING IN NASSAU COUNTY BEING A MAIN THING THAT A COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS ABLE TO HELP MAKE ACCOMPLISH.

AND HE JUST HASN'T DONE IT.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW HE WOULD TAKE THAT TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

WOULD HE BE HAPPY TO SEE PROPERTY TAX OR PROPERTY VALUES IN WATERTOWN TRIPLE OVER THE TERM OF HIS GOVERNORSHIP?

I DON'T THINK MANY FOLKS IN WATERTOWN WOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE.

AND IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO SEE HOCHUL SEEMINGLY AVOIDS ZOHRAN MAMDANI AND SOME OF THOSE CONTROVERSIAL PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING.

AND THEN WE SAW THE MAYOR COME OUT WITH A VIDEO IN SUPPORT OF HOCHUL POST DEBATE WHERE HE SORT OF LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST BRUCE BLAKEMAN.

SO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT POST DEBATE EFFORT FROM THE MAYOR?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, A SORT OF KIND MOVE ON HIS PART BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS IN A TOUGH SPOT WHERE SHE CAN'T ALWAYS SAY, I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING THE MAYOR'S DOING.

YOU KNOW, I'M ON BOARD WITH ALL OF HIS POLICIES.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE BOTH DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK TRYING TO WIN ELECTIONS.

SO I THINK FOR HIM TO COME OUT AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS MAN CAN'T WIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS DEFINITELY USEFUL.

>> I THINK HOCHUL AND MAMDANI HAVE PROVEN TO BE A VERY PRACTICAL PAIRING OF WHAT INITIALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE PROJECTED WOULD BE SOMEWHAT OF A DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP.

HOCHUL HAS BEEN VERY SPECIFIC IN HOW AND WHAT SHE SUPPORTED OF MAMDANI'S POLICIES AND PRIORITIES.

SHE'S NOT AFRAID TO SAY THAT SHE DOESN'T LIKE SOMETHING THAT HE'S DOING NECESSARILY, BUT SHE ALSO DOESN'T GO OUT AND STOP HIM FROM DOING THOSE THINGS IF THEY'RE WELL WITHIN HIS POWER.

I THINK PIED À TERRE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, MAMDANI IS LENDING HIMSELF TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN ATTACK DOG.

YOU KNOW, HE IS NOT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

HE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROVERSIAL.

HE CAN MAKE BIGGER ATTACKS THAT MAYBE WOULD NOT LOOK SO GOOD COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S SIDE OF THE RING.

>> YEAH.

SO IF YOUR HOCHUL IN THIS MOMENT WHERE WE'RE ABOUT LESS THAN A MONTH UNTIL ELECTION DAY, DO YOU SORT OF CAMPAIGN WITH MAMDANI NOW THAT THE DEBATE IS OVER?

OR DO YOU SORT OF AVOID HIM GOING INTO THE FINAL WEEKS OF ELECTION SEASON?

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO PROBABLY INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY WITH HIM.

SPECIFICALLY WITHIN NEW YORK CITY.

BECAUSE I THINK IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, THEY CAN USUALLY RELY ON THE FIVE BOROUGHS TO GO WITH THEM.

BUT I THINK JUST INCREASING TURNOUT IN THOSE AREAS, I THINK THAT'S KEY JUST TO MAKE IT, I GUESS, A LESS ANXIOUS ELECTION NIGHT FOR HER.

>> SURE.

AND IN TERMS OF BLAKEMAN, WHAT SHOULD HIS STRATEGY BE IN THESE FINAL MOMENTS?

>> I THINK BLAKEMAN, THE KEY FOR HIM IS GETTING HIS NAME OUT THERE MORE.

THE POLLS THAT I'VE SEEN, THERE'S A BIG CHUNK OF THE ELECTORATE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF INFORMATION ABOUT HIM.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS TO FORM AN OPINION AND DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO FILL IN HIS BUBBLE ON THE SHEET WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DO SO.

I THINK HE ALSO HAS TO WALK A FINE LINE.

YOU KNOW, HE APPEARED IN SYRACUSE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST LAST WEEK.

TRUMP REMAINS ONE OF THE LEAST POPULAR FIGURES ACROSS THE STATE.

HE'S POPULAR WITH SOME REPUBLICANS, BUT EVEN THAT'S WANING.

SO I THINK HOW HE APPROACHES THE PRESIDENT'S PRESENCE IN THIS RACE IS GOING TO BE KEY.

I THINK THE DEBATE SHOWED THAT HE WAS WILLING TO FINALLY START WALKING AWAY FROM SOME OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID AND DONE, WHICH HE HASN'T DONE BEFOREHAND.

I SUSPECT WE'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT GOING FORWARD.

>> YEAH.

AND ON THOSE POLLS THAT WE'VE SEEN, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAS A COMFORTABLE LEAD OVER BLAKEMAN WITH JUST ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

SO SHOULD WE BE TRUSTING THESE POLLS OR IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AN OCTOBER SURPRISE HERE?

>> I MEAN, I WOULDN'T SO MUCH COUNT OCTOBER SURPRISE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, A POLL IS JUST A POLL.

I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THEM BE WRONG BY 20 POINTS EVEN AT TIMES.

I MEAN, I GUESS TO OUR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAMDANI'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HOCHUL, I MEAN, I THINK HE WASN'T EVEN POLLING COMPETITIVELY FOR A GOOD PART OF HIS PRIMARY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK TO LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IN THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE WOULD BE A POOR MOVE.

BY THAT SAME TOKEN, I THINK FOR BRUCE BLAKEMAN TO NOT SEE THOSE NUMBERS AND THINK WE HAVE TO GO REALLY, REALLY HARD IN PLACES LIKE UPSTATE NEW YORK, WHERE, LIKE ALEX WAS SAYING, HIS RECOGNITION IS JUST SO LOW.

I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, A BAD MOVE.

>> ANY THOUGHTS ON THE POLLS?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN WITH POLITICAL EXPERTS.

I TRY TO GET AT LEAST ONE TO CHIME IN EVERY TIME I WRITE ABOUT A POLL.

AND THE MESSAGE EVERY TIME IS, YOU KNOW, POLLS ARE A GREAT SNAPSHOT IN TIME.

YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART, THE POLLS THAT WE SEE HERE IN NEW YORK, SIENA COLLEGE IS VERY RELIABLE.

SOME OF THE OTHER POLLING THAT WE'VE SEEN, QUINNIPIAC, VERY RELIABLE.

BUT THEY'RE NOT PREDICTIVE, TELLING YOU WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN COME ELECTION DAY.

YOU CAN AVERAGE THEM OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND GET SORT OF A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

OBVIOUSLY, THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN DOING WELL IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY POLL THAT'S COME OUT, SAVE REALLY ONE.

AND EVEN THAT ONE, SHE WAS STILL AHEAD BY NINE POINTS.

SO I THINK SHE'D BE EMBARRASSED TO SEE ANOTHER 6% SEPARATION BETWEEN HER AND MR.

BLAKEMAN THIS TIME AROUND.

>> YEAH, WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS WE APPROACH ELECTION DAY.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE REPORTING.

>> THANKS.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ALEX GAULT OF THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES AND AUSTIN JEFFERSON OF STREETSBLOG NYC.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS YEAR'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

LAST WEEK WE DOVE INTO THE RACE FOR NEW YORK'S 20TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THIS WEEK WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON THE 19TH DISTRICT IN THE HUDSON VALLEY.

NOW THIS IS A SWING DISTRICT THAT IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE JOSH RILEY WHO IS BEING CHALLENGED BY REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR PETER OBERACKER.

OUR ELISE KLINE DOVE INTO THE ELEMENTS OF THIS RACE AND MESSAGING FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THIS NEXT STORY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> NEW YORK'S 19TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, A HIGH PROFILE SWING DISTRICT, COULD LEAN IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOCRATS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

ACCORDING TO A 2026 QUINNIPIAC POLL, VOTERS FAVOR DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE BY 11 POINTS.

THE POLL ALSO SHOWS THAT 67 PERCENT OF VOTERS DISAPPROVE OF HOW REPUBLICANS ARE HANDLING THEIR JOBS IN CONGRESS.

THE 19TH DISTRICT 2026 MID TERM INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVE JOSH RILEY, THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, AND STATE SENATOR PETER OBERACKER, THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.

RILEY WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2025 FOLLOWING A POLITICAL UPSET AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT MARC MOLINARO.

RILEY SAYS FOR HIM, RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IS ABOUT REPRESENTING HIS UPSTATE NEW YORK CONSTITUENTS AND PUSHING FOR PRODUCTIVITY IN WASHINGTON.

>> I AM GOING TO APPROACH THIS DIFFERENTLY.

I AM GOING TO APPROACH THIS THE WAY UPSTATE NEW YORKERS APPROACH IT.

AND WHAT THAT HAS MEANT IS, I HAVE HAD SOME REALLY BIG FIGHTS WITH MY OWN POLITICAL PARTY WHEN I THOUGHT THEY WEREN'T DOING RIGHT BY UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND I HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY ACROSS THE AISLE, AS ONE OF THE MOST BIPARTISAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, TO GET STUFF DONE FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> OBERACKER, A STATE SENATOR FOR 6 YEARS REPRESENTING THE 51ST SENATE DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES PORTIONS OF THE 19TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SUCH AS BROOME, ULSTER AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, DECIDED TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE TO TRY AND MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT AND PLANS TO FOCUS ON COST OF LIVING ISSUES.

>> IT REALLY JUST COMES DOWN TO THREE THINGS, IF YOU WILL: AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND AFFORDABILITY.

I MEAN, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE IN MY CURRENT SENATE DISTRICT, WHICH IS 73 PERCENT OF NEW YORK 19, BUT ALL OF NEW YORK 19 ARE JUST BEING STRESSED WITH, OF COURSE, FUEL, GAS, UTILITY BILLS, GROCERIES THOSE MAIN HOUSEHOLD BUDGET ITEMS.

SO IT REALLY IS TO GET BACK TO ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY.

>> MANY NY 19 RESIDENTS WHO VOTED FOR RILEY IN THE LAST TERM ELECTION, SAY THEY PLAN TO VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY WANT A CANDIDATE WHO WILL STAND UP AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

>> I WORK WITH ANYONE, THE PRESIDENT OR ANYBODY ELSE, IF THEY'RE HELPING US.

AND I'LL FIGHT THEM REALLY HARD IF THEY'RE NOT.

>> HE'S REPRESENTED OUR AREA WELL, HE'S STOOD UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION WELL, AND I HOPE THAT HE CONTINUES TO DO SO.

>> AT LEAST THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A FEELING OF WHAT THE COMMON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THE WEALTHY DON'T PAY ANY TAXES OR PAY VERY LITTLE.

YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT HAS REALLY BEEN TURNED AROUND.

>> OBERACKER, WHO WAS ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP EARLIER THIS YEAR, SAYS HE DOESN'T SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE AND HE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE FEELS IT'S NECESSARY.

>> THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE ENDORSED THE BEST CANDIDATES.

SO THAT'S THE WAY I KIND OF LOOK AT IT.

I FEEL AS THOUGH I AM THE BEST CANDIDATE.

AND HERE'S THE THING THAT I'D LOVE TO POINT OUT.

I HAVE, WHEN IT MAKES SENSE, I SUPPORT IT, AND WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, I HAVE SHOWN THAT I WON'T SUPPORT IT.

I'VE EVEN DONE THAT IN ALBANY AND IN MY OWN PART OF THE AISLE.

>> SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY THAT OBERACKER'S ENDORSEMENT FROM PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP COULD BE RISKY FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> I THINK IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE, AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FAVORABILITY CONTINUES TO DROP, HIS ENDORSEMENT ISN'T NECESSARILY A BENEFIT TO SOME OF THESE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, PARTICULARLY IN COMPETITIVE RACES.

>> THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT THESE DAYS IS ESPECIALLY IN A DISTRICT LIKE THIS IS A BIT OF A WASH, I WOULD THINK, I MEAN, THE MORE RURAL AREAS OF THIS DISTRICT, THE MORE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AREAS OF THIS DISTRICT, IT MIGHT HELP.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF USUALLY LEANING REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO MIGHT JUST STAY HOME BECAUSE OF THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IN WHICH CASE, THEN THE NEGATIVE REACTION IN THE MORE DEMOCRATIC AREAS OF THE DISTRICT, LIKE BINGHAMTON AND ITHACA, MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO ENSURE THAT JOSH RILEY WINS.

>> TWOMBLY ADDS THIS DISTRICT SEEMS TO BE LEANING TOWARDS RE ELECTING RILEY.

>> YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE JOSH RILEY WIN THIS.

I MEAN, THE DISTRICT LEANS DEMOCRATIC.

HE WON, I WOULDN'T SAY, WALKING AWAY LAST TIME, BUT HE SHOWED SOME STRENGTH.

>> WHILE VOTERS SEEM TO BE LEANING TOWARD RILEY, OTHERS ARE STILL UNDECIDED.

KALKIN JIMENEZ, A CATSKILLS RESIDENT, SAYS HE TENDS TO LEAN MORE CONSERVATIVE, BUT HE ISN'T SURE WHO HE PLANS TO VOTE FOR.

>> REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, DOESN'T MATTER TO ME; IT'S THE ISSUES AT HAND.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR THE SAME ISSUES THAT I WANT YOU TO FIGHT FOR, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I DRAW THE LINE.

>> JIMENEZ SAYS TOP ISSUES OF MIND FOR HIM ARE HOUSING AND ADDICTION SERVICES ISSUES.

BENJAMIN DUBOW, ALSO A CATSKILLS RESIDENT AND A FARMER, SAYS HE TENDS TO LEAN MORE DEMOCRAT, BUT HE IS NOT QUITE SURE WHO HE PLANS TO VOTE FOR.

>> I MEAN, I GENERALLY FIND MYSELF LEANING TOWARDS THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY MORE ALIGN WITH MY VALUES AND ISSUES, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF DISAPPOINTING ALSO MOST OF THE TIME, SO I HAVE TO DO MY RESEARCH, BUT I ASSUME I WOULD LEAN TOWARDS THE INCUMBENT.

>> BARRETT GRANT, A UNION ORGANIZER IN BINGHAMTON, SAYS HE TYPICALLY LEANS REPUBLICAN AND WILL LIKELY VOTE FOR OBERACKER BUT ISN'T SURE YET.

GRANT SAYS OBERACKER'S STANCE ON CERTAIN UNION ISSUES SUCH AS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS IS UNCLEAR; IF HE COULD LET VOTERS LIKE HIM KNOW HE WILL BE A SUPPORTER OF THIS ISSUE, THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> I'VE HAD A LOT OF PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM, AND THE ONE THING THAT HE SHOWS IS A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND BE INFORMED ON STUFF HE DOESN'T KNOW.

SO IF HE COULD CHANGE HIS MIND A LITTLE BIT ON THOSE ISSUES, THAT WOULD SOLIDIFY IT.

>> OBERACKER HAS A FEW ENDORSEMENTS FROM ADVOCATE GROUPS, SOME UNIONS, AND POLITICAL LEADERS SUCH AS TRUMP, HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STEVE SCALISE, GREEN COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, AND MORE.

OBERACKER WAS PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS RECENTLY PULLED FOLLOWING RESURFACED HEAT FROM A 2015 VETERANS DAY POST OBERACKER PUT UP SALUTING HIS GRANDFATHER WHO SERVED AS A NAZI SOLDIER.

OBERACKER, WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS POST AND THE CRITICISM HE HAS FACED FOR IT, RESPONDED, SAYING HE DOESN'T THINK THE POST WAS THE MAIN REASON THE NATIONAL GOP PULLED THEIR ENDORSEMENT BUT RATHER THAT THE NATIONAL GOP WANTED TO CONTROL HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> LISTEN, I HAD PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT HAS BEEN EMBEDDED IN THIS DISTRICT, AND IN EVERY ONE OF MY ELECTIONS, THEY HAVE WORKED WITH ME; THEY KNOW ME, THEY KNOW THE DISTRICT.

THEY KNOW THOSE TYPES OF NUANCES, AND SO IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO A DECISION, AND I'LL SAY THIS: AS A FORMER CEO, I'VE MADE DECISIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE AND SOMETIMES HAVE COST MONEY.

AND THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

AND I SAID, I'M GOING TO STICK WITH MY TEAM.

WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH OUR PLAN MOVING FORWARD, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

AND I THINK IT JUST SPEAKS TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: WILL I BE MY OWN INDIVIDUAL AND REPRESENT THE DISTRICT?

YOU BETCHA.

>> RILEY ARGUES OBERACKER IS NOT TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND HE IS APPALLED BY IT.

>> ON VETERANS DAY OF ALL DAYS, A DAY WHERE WE HONOR AMERICAN HEROES, FOR HIM TO POST A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S ENEMIES, THE NAZIS, I THINK IT'S DISQUALIFYING.

VOTERS CAN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES ON THAT, BUT I JUST THINK IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

>> SOME VOTERS FEEL THIS DISPLAYED BEHAVIOR BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS CONCERNING.

ABBY PREXTA, A HUSON VOTER, SAYS THERE IS ENOUGH HATE IN POLITICS; SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A RISE IN THE ULTRA FAR RIGHT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND I THINK WHEN POLITICIANS ARE DOING THINGS EVEN IN THEIR PAST THAT THE FAR RIGHT MIGHT GRAB ONTO AND MIGHT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE AN ALLY IN THAT PERSON, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY CONCERNING TO ME.

>> ANOTHER ONE OF RILEY AND OBERACKER'S CONTROVERSIES IS THEIR STANCE ON UTILITY COSTS, A TOP OF MIND ISSUE FOR MANY VOTERS.

WHILE BOTH OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THIS ISSUE AND COSTS FOR NEW YORKERS, IT HAS BECOME A POINT OF FIRE BETWEEN THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

OBERACKER HAS ACCUSED RILEY OF STOCK OWNERSHIP IN IBERDROLA, THE PARENT COMPANY OF NEW YORK STATE ELECTRIC AND GAS.

HE ALSO SAYS HIS APPROACH IS BETTER THAN RILEY'S, WHO RECENTLY SUED THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR ITS APPROVAL OF RECENT RATE HIKES.

>> MY OPPONENT, BEING A LAWYER, I THINK HIS MAIN THRUST WAS TO LOOK AT A SUIT, SUING THE COMPANY, SUING CEOS, AND REALLY KIND OF HAMPERING THAT SIDE OF THE EQUATION.

WHERE MINE, BEING A CEO AND BEING A BUSINESS MINDSET, IS REALLY LOOKING AT LAYING OUT A PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMMEDIATE, AS I PREVIOUSLY SAID, WITH OUR REPAIR BILL OF RIGHTS, IT HAS AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

IT WILL HAVE AN OUTLINE, A BUSINESS PLAN.

>> RILEY SAYS HIS OPPONENT'S STOCK CLAIM IS FALSE AND PUSHED BACK ON THE ISSUE, HIGHLIGHTING LEGISLATION IN ADDITION TO THE LAWSUIT AS PROOF OF HIS ACTIONS ON UTILITY COSTS.

>> RIGHT NOW, UTILITY COMPANY EXECUTIVES ARE REWARDED BASED ON HOW PROFITABLE THESE UTILITY MONOPOLIES ARE.

AND MY BILL WOULD CHANGE THAT TO SAY YOU DON'T GET REWARDED UNLESS THE UTILITY BILLS ARE AFFORDABLE, WHICH A FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY NOT PROFITABLE.

I HAVE A BILL THAT WOULD END THE TAX ON UTILITY BILLS.

AND SO THERE'S THIS WHOLE HOST OF BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO FIGHT AGAINST THESE RATE HIKES WITHIN THAT SYSTEM.

>> RILEY'S ENDORSEMENTS COME FROM NEW YORK UNION GROUPS AND ADVOCATES SUCH AS 1199 SEIU AND THE NEW YORK NURSES ASSOCIATION.

KATHLEEN HAYEK, CHAIR OF THE DELAWARE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, SAYS SHE FEELS RILEY IS A STRONG DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

>> WE HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR US, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND JOSH SPEAKS TO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT LEANING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

HE'S KIND OF RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

HE REALLY IS TRYING TO FIND A PLACE WHERE HE HELPS THE MOST PEOPLE.

>> CONNIE WHITE, CHAIR OF THE CORTLAND COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, SAYS THEY LIKE OBERACKER AS A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 19 BECAUSE THEY KNOW HIM AND FEEL HE UNDERSTANDS LOCAL ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL POLICIES.

>> ONLY NINE TOWNS IN MY COUNTY, BUT THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT HE KNOWS WELL, AND WE KNOW HIM.

>> AS BOTH RILEY AND OBERACKER INCH CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, NO PUBLIC DEBATE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED, WHICH HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

A LOCAL MEDIA CONSORTIUM, INCLUDING THE TIMES UNION, WMHT, WAMC, AND WNYT CHANNEL 13, ATTEMPTED TO ARRANGE A DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES TO NO AVAIL DESPITE EXHAUSTIVE ATTEMPTS.

OBERACKER'S CAMPAIGN TEAM AGREED TO THE DEBATE, WHILE RILEY'S TEAM TOLD WMHT, THAT THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS, RILEY RESPONDED THAT HIS TIME WOULD BE BETTER SPENT AT COMMUNITY VOTER EVENTS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT MY TIME IS BEST SPENT DIRECTLY WITH VOTERS, GOING OUT TO AS MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS AS POSSIBLE AND BEING WITH THE VOTERS.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER SPEND MY TIME WITH UPSTATE NEW YORKERS THAN WITH MY OPPONENT.

>> RILEY ADDED HE HAS AGREED TO CANDIDATE FORUMS, BUT ULTIMATELY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT GIVING SPACE TO HIS OPPONENT'S CAMPAIGN IN A PUBLIC DEBATE.

>> MY OPPONENT'S CAMPAIGN HAS BECOME SO TOXIC THAT EVEN HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY WON'T SUPPORT HIM ANYMORE AFTER HE POSTED ON VETERANS DAY A SALUTE TO NAZI SOLDIERS.

>> OBERACKER SAYS HE WAS DISAPPOINTED AND ARGUES THIS IS PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM US, RIGHT WHERE WE ARE.

WHERE WE ARE ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST?

I'M DISAPPOINTED IN BOTH THE LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO DO THAT, WHICH I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.

>> THE DEBATE STAGE WOULD'VE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CANDIDATES TO NOT ONLY MAKE IT CLEAR TO VOTERS WHERE THEY STAND ON IMPORTANT ISSUES BUT ALSO WHERE THEY STAND ON THE CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, VOTERS WON'T GET TO SEE THE CANDIDATES DEBATE THIS ON A PUBLIC STAGE.

SOME VOTERS SAY THEY DON'T CARE, WHILE OTHERS SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK PUBLIC DEBATE IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT FOR ANY KIND OF ELECTION.

>> I MEAN, HOW ELSE CAN WE PICK FROM THE TWO UNLESS WE KNOW WE CAN HEAR IT FROM THEIR MOUTHS EXACTLY HOW THEY FEEL?

ME, MYSELF, WHEN I HEAR THEM SPEAK, I CAN TELL HOW GENUINE THEY ARE, YOU KNOW?

SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR BOTH OF THEM SPEAK ON THE STAGE TOGETHER.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>> POLITICAL EXPERTS STRESS THAT DEBATES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, BUT THAT IT MIGHT NOT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE END ON THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE.

>> MOST OF OUR RESEARCH AS POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ON THE EFFECTS OF DEBATES IS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL.

AND WE KNOW AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL DEBATE REALLY JUST SWINGS PUBLIC OPINION A COUPLE OF POINTS, AND USUALLY THIS IS ONLY VERY SHORT LASTING.

>> WINNING A SWING DISTRICT LIKE NY 19 WILL LIKELY COME DOWN TO THE CANDIDATES HAVING TO PERSUADE THE UNDECIDED CONSTITUENTS.

BOTH CANDIDATES SAY THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR CAMPAIGN EFFORTS TO DO JUST THAT.

>> I'M JUST OUT TALKING TO AS MANY FOLKS IN AS MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SO I SEE IT AS A CONTINUATION OF THAT.

>> THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION, LOOK'EM IN THE EYE.

LET'S TALK.

LET'S REALLY WORK ON THIS TOGETHER, AND I'M READY.

I'M READY TO GET GOING.

LET'S DO IT.

>> ELECTION DAY IS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY AT THIS POINT, AND EARLY VOTING STARTS NEXT WEEK.

THIS IS CERTAINLY AN INTERESTING RACE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW.

ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.

>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[MUSIC] >> FUNDING FOR NEW YORK NOW IS PROVIDED BY WNET.