Candidates vying for the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's seat had their last chance to face off before the election, during a debate hosted by the League of Women Voters of Rochester.

Democratic candidate and state Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle is taking on Republican neurosurgeon and political newcomer Jim Maxwell in the race for the 25th congressional district.

Though both disagreed on how to tackle a number of issues in the 25th, they agreed on the importance of women's health.

Both lost loved ones to breast cancer: Morelle, his daughter and Maxwell, his wife.

"For me it has left a profound impact on my life and on my children's life, my wife’s life, our grandkids. I think one of the reasons I’m so passionate about women’s health issues… (and) the question of pre-existing conditions in our health care system, we can’t have people who suffer from cancer not be able to get health insurance,” he said. 

"We have to do better and I would love to see the University of Rochester be funded and be one of the main centers in the world on breast cancer and to conquer breast cancer right here in Rochester,” Maxwell said.

He then made an offer, regardless of how the election ends, to “put shoulder to should to the boulder and together we could make that happened, that is curing breast cancer right here in Rochester."

Morelle said he would welcome that opportunity to work together. 

Voters in the 25th District will need to remember to vote for the race twice on Tuesday, once for the special election to replace the late Louise Slaughter and another for the general election.