Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney says his interest in serving the Hudson Valley and his interest in seeking the state attorney general nomination are not competing ventures.

Maloney says he is running for his current seat for the 18th congressional district, but if he is nominated for attorney general, he will turn down his congressional nomination. 

But others in the Hudson Valley say it's not so simple. Republican James O'Donnell is in the running for the congressional seat Maloney is on. O'Donnell sees the move as inconsiderate to voters.

"That's not fair to the congressional district. We need a full-time representative down in Washington," said O'Donnell, an Orange County legislator.

The candidate also says if Maloney gets the AG nomination and ends his congressional run, a Democrat who runs for his seat would only have a matter of weeks to campaign versus the months he's had. O'Donnell also questions if it's legal to be a congressional candidate while seeking the AG nomination.

Last month, Long Island Represenative Kathleen Rice announced she would not run for Attorney General, because she believes state law blocks candidates from running simultaneously for two offices.

Michael Sussman, who is seeking the Green Party nomination for AG, questions the motives of eyeing both seats. 

"To say you'll do either one, it makes me wonder about the sincerity of the desire to do either. If you're passionate about being Attorney General as I am, then put yourself in that and say 'this is what I really want to do,' " Sussman said.  

Maloney contests those opinions, and says his motive is simply to help New Yorkers and keep both seats Democratic. 

"I love that work, and I would keep doing it. My point to you is, I don't feel like I'm doing enough. And so yeah, we're going to have to walk and chew gum at the same time," Maloney said. "Guess what? We're going to have to win the Hudson Valley seat, and we're going to have to have somebody in the attorney general's office who can take the fight to Trump and win it."

The primary for the congressional seat is in June, while the primary for the AG's position is in September.