For the first time in 40 years, two new candidates are fighting for the Republican nomination for the 49th District State Senate seat being vacated by Hugh Farley -- Assemblyman Jim Tedisco and real estate businessman Christian Klueg.

"I think I'm a fighter for our constituents. I love being a representative,” said Tedisco.

"I employ a little over 60 people in my real estate business, but I'm just very concerned about the future of our state and where we're going," said Klueg.

Both candidates believe they have the right experience to represent the second largest district in the state, which includes all of Fulton and Hamilton counties and parts of Herkimer, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties. For Klueg, his business background gives him confidence.

"My company, my career has been built upon getting people to the table and saying, 'How can we find a win-win? How can we sit down and make something work?’ And so I want to take those same skill sets into the State Senate," said Klueg.

Tedisco, who has the support of party leaders, touts his long record in politics.

"I'm the only candidate in this race who battled for our second amendment rights and our constitutional rights. I voted against the SAFE Act because it made innocent, honest, law-abiding citizens criminals,” said Tedisco.

But the fight for the Republican nomination hasn't always been pretty.

"My opponent is a career politician he's been in office for 34 years. I think he's a decent guy, but he is a career politician," said Klueg. "He says one thing and does another. He says he believes in term limits, yet he's been there for 34 years. And look at his voting record just last year in the State Assembly: He voted with the downstate Democrats over 91 percent of the time."

"You know, when people say something about career politicians, basically what they're saying is 'I have no policies myself. I have no legislation to make a better quality of life,' ” said Tedisco.

When it comes to the issues, both candidates say they know how to best serve the needs of the district's constituents.

"Certain areas ... the economy is a big issue. You go to Saratoga County, Schenectady County, it's taxes. It's the quality of life. It's the ever-increasing cost of life for retirees," said Klueg.

"I know they're concerned about their taxes. I know they're concerned about the economy. I know they're concerned about the infrastructure; that's why I put forth the SWAT program, the safe water infrastructure action plan,” said Tedisco.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat and Schenectady Deputy City Clerk Chad Putman in November.