SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Democrats Juanita Perez Williams and Dana Balter, both vying for the seat held by incumbent Republican Rep. John Katko since 2015, agreed on several issues and took on Katko and President Donald Trump more than clashing with one another.

The big topics?

Legalizing marijuana

“We need to talk about the fact that this is an area where can certainly do a lot of good to help people who have convictions that are really for minor offenses that are non-violent,” said Perez Williams, who ran for mayor of Syracuse last year.

“Marijuana is a very good pain management alternative that does not have the same dangerous side effects as opioids,” said Balter, who currently teaches at Syracuse University's Maxwell School.

Both target the GOP tax plan

“I'm tremendously concerned about the attacks we're seeing not only from Donald Trump but the GOP in general and our own Congressman who promised us that he would not repeal the ACA without a good replacement. And then he voted for the Republican tax bill which gutted the ACA,” said Balter.

Is enough being done here to stem the opioid epidemic?

“I'm not so sure John Katko is doing enough. I know that within this district we have a number of organizations that are talking about the fact that we should be focused on funding for housing, making sure that there are more treatment centers,” said Perez Williams.

An exclusive Spectrum News/Siena Research Institute Poll out this week shows Perez Williams with an early lead.

The Democratic primary election is June 26.