It may be Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature achievement: Groundbreaking gun control legislation, known as the SAFE Act, passed in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre.

"We passed the best gun control law in the United States of America," the Democrat said, touting the law at a campaign event this year.

The SAFE Act banned military style assault weapons and set up a mental health database, among many other things. And Cuomo wants to go further, increasing the waiting period to buy a gun from three days to 10 and raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21.

Republican Marc Molinaro has opposed the SAFE Act, arguing it infringes on gun owners' civil liberties. He has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has endorsed him, and Molinaro defends the NRA's role in the debate.

"I believe that anyone who's honest and earnest about the conversation ought to be a part of it," the candidate for governor said.

As a state Assemblyman, Molinaro voted 32 times against gun control bills, a fact Cuomo has seized on:

"He's voted to sell guns to criminals," a narrator says in a Cuomo campaign ad.

But Molinaro is also not taking contributions from the NRA and says those with a history of violence or severe mental health issues shouldn't have access to guns.

Cuomo has tried to tie Molinaro to the extreme right-wing. "He's anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ, anti-gun safety, anti-immigration," Cuomo said about his opponent at the state Democratic convention.

But on some of Cuomo's other progressive achievements, Molinaro takes a more nuanced view. As an Assemblyman, he voted against same-sex marriage, another one of Cuomo's triumphs, but says he now recognizes LGBTQ rights as civil rights.

Molinaro doesn't exactly bash the $15 minimum wage, but says he would have implemented it differently.

Then there's Cuomo's paid family leave program. Molinaro supports it; his concern is the burden on small businesses.

"We over-regulate without providing any relief," the Dutchess County executive said.

Finally, Cuomo touts his Excelsior Scholarship program that provides free public college tuition to low- and middle-income students. Molinaro says he'd make college more accessible for everyone.

"His program doesn't do that," Molinaro said. "In fact, it creates an added burden to those who aren't selected by the governor to go to college with taxpayer support."