With one week until from the midterm elections, the Hudson Valley is home to one of the closest congressional races in the country.

New York’s newly redrawn 18th Congressional District is up for grabs between Democrat candidate and current NY-19 Congressman Pat Ryan, and Republican candidate and current New York State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt.

Considered a “purple” district, Cook Political Report says NY-18 leans Democrat, but a week before Election Day, it’s a toss-up.

“I feel encouraged; I think that people understand what’s at stake right now,” says Ryan.

Ryan is the former Ulster County executive, having announced his run for the House of Representatives in May 2022 after then-Rep. Antonio Delgado was selected by Governor Kathy Hochul as lieutenant governor.

After winning August’s special election for NY-19 against Republican candidate Marc Molinaro, Ryan has been a member of Congress for almost two months.

“There’s a lot of rhetoric, but focus on results,” said Ryan as his final pitch to voters.

As he hopes to keep the district blue, he’s challenged by Schmitt on the other side of the ballot.

A member of the New York State Assembly since 2018, Schmitt says he’s ready to expand his responsibility to the federal level.

“We were fed up with one-party control from the State House to the White House and felt now more than ever that we needed to ensure that there are checks and balances in Washington, that there’s a need for negotiation and compromise,” said Schmitt.

Schmitt outlined his priorities if elected.

Day one, with our commitment to America … to get our economy back on track, ensure that our communities are safe and that we fully support law enforcement, and work to immediately secure the border and stop the flow of poison fentanyl into our communities,” said Schmitt.

Schmitt and Ryan recently went head-to-head in a Spectrum News 1 debate, and many of their policy differences were clear. One stark difference falls into to one of the country’s most controversial issues: abortion.

“I’m pro-life; that’s my voting record in the state assembly,” said Schmitt.

His opponent feels much differently.

“I support reinstating the Roe framework that has served our country for five-plus decades,” said Ryan.

The two also clash when it comes to reforming federal laws on firearms.

“I support the Second Amendment. That's my voting record in the state assembly,” said Schmitt.

“Ten-year-old kids are getting gunned down at a grocery store or a school. And yet you sell out to your A+ rating from the NRA,” Ryan said in the debate. “That's not common sense. That's not what the vast majority of the American people want. I want a federal assault weapons ban. I want universal background checks, red flag laws.”

Both candidates come from military backgrounds – Schmitt as a current Army National Guardsman, Ryan as a retired Army intelligence officer. That’s where similarities in policy lie.

“It's something that I've been outspoken on, and it's something that we need to ensure in Congress, we fully fund quality care through the VA,” said Schmitt.

“The proposal to close the Castle Point VA, the heart of our VA system in the Hudson Valley, was ridiculous, and I know we both rallied against that loudly and have secured some victory, but I don't think that that's gone yet,” said Ryan.