Stretching from Ithaca to the Massachusetts border, New York’s 19th congressional district is unique to say the least. Covering nearly 200 miles, the newly drawn lines may be unfamiliar to voters, but at least one candidate is hoping to lean on his familiarity.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has been involved in politics since the age of 19 when he was elected mayor of the village of Tivoli.

“I have spent every day of my adult life making government work for people. You know, you learn in local government and as a teenage mayor or a long time ago that you've got to leave partisanship at the door, that the people demand government respond to their needs. And I've learned to work with and to bring Republicans and Democrats together,” said Marc Molinaro, (R) 19th Congressional District Candidate.

On the other side of the coin is political newcomer, Democrat Josh Riley. The Union-Endicott High School graduate and Harvard educated lawyer worked under former congressman Maurice Hinchey as well as Senators Ted Kennedy and Al Franken.

“The status quo has not been working. I think too many families and too many communities across upstate New York have been sold out and overlooked by our politicians for a long time. So I think we need change. I'm running as a new voice, a new vision, new leadership. I've never run for office before. I'm not really a politician, by contrast, you know, my opponent's been doing this for 30 years,” said Josh Riley, (D) 19th congressional district candidate.

One of the top issues throughout the campaign has related to law enforcement. Molinaro claims Riley hasn’t done enough to distance himself from what he’s calling “radical Democrat policies.”

The county executive is a supporter of overturning cashless bail and hopes to fund over 200,000 police officers and a drug task force.

“My opponent and I couldn't be any more different on this issue. He he embraces cashless bail. He embraces discovery reform. He embraces the policies that have made us less safe. As a county executive, it's part of my job to provide for public safety. And I can say without question that these policies have made it more difficult for us to provide safety and security,” said Molinaro.

“My opponent is spending literally millions of dollars with flat out lies about my record and position on this. Flat out lies. I mean, he's he's a career politician doing what career politicians do best, which is exploit fears and lie about things. I get it. That's politics as usual. People are going to reject it,” said Riley.

Riley pointed to his time in the senate, where he was part of a team that helped secure more funding and more support for law enforcement and claims that fight will only continue.

But that’s not the only issue that’s been the topic of debate among these candidates. The recent overturning of Roe V. Wade has sparked controversy and debate across our region, and it’s worked it’s way into this election.

“I think abortion is health care, and I believe that women's health care decisions are women's health care decisions. It's a basic contrast. My opponent apparently trusts politicians to make the most difficult decisions for women. I trust women to make those decisions,” said Riley.

“I want to be clear. Despite Josh Riley spending hundreds of thousands of dollars lying about my position in record, I do not support a national ban. I don't believe Congress has the right to impose its will on the states in New York State. Access will remain. Access to abortion will remain in the state, and the federal government can't undo that,” said Molinaro.