U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan and Republican challenger Alison Esposito will square off for the second time Wednesday as they battle for the Hudson Valley's 18th Congressional District — a highly watched race that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The debate at Marist College will air live at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.

Esposito, the former candidate for New York lieutenant governor and a longtime New York City police officer, is looking to unseat Ryan, who was elected to Congress in 2022. The 18th Congressional District, which includes all of Orange, and parts of Dutchess and Ulster counties. 

Ryan, the incumbent Democrat, is on the offensive and trying to overcome voter concerns about inflation and public safety. 

"We've been working really hard to deliver for every one of my constitutents," he told Spectrum News 1 last week. "Lower costs, which is the No. 1 priority, [and] make sure we secure our border and keep our communities safe."

Both candidates recently hit the campaign trail with big names to boost support. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stumped for Ryan in Kingston last week.

And 2022 gubernatorial candidate and former Rep. Lee Zeldin campaigned for his former running mate in Dutchess County — pushing the Republican messaging that voters need change in Washington to fight for immigration reform and lower costs.

"Every vote matters, every vote counts, no one can sit on the sidelines," Zeldin said. "We need Alison for our country, and we need Alison in office to get it done."

President Joe Biden won the Hudson Valley district by more than 8% in 2020, but Marist poll director Lee Miringoff said redistricting has shifted the district slightly more Democratic than in 2022 when Ryan won by fewer than 4,000 votes. National issues like inflation, immigration, abortion and public safety will impact both campaigns.

It's unclear how Esposito’s close support of former President Donald Trump and law enforcement background will play with voters. 

Recent polls show Ryan has a slight edge over Esposito – but only by a few percentage points.

Esposito argues the poll was in the margin of error, and that Republicans tend to be less likely to be willing to share their views with pollsters.

“We tend to stay mum on who we’re going to be voting for,” she said. “I’m expecting a common-sense wave on Nov. 5. and I think our Americans, independents, Republicans and Democrats alike are going to say ‘We want a candidate who represents our values, we want a candidate who worries about us. We want a candidate that has had a life of public service and understands that this is a government of the people, by the people, for the people and the ruling elite can exist stage left.'”

Miringoff says the best time to defeat an incumbent is in their first reelection, like Ryan.

"The best time to defeat an incumbent is in their first reelection, or the one-termers like Ryan," he said Tuesday. "Because after that, they become much more ingrained for all the things that make incumbency so important for members of Congress."