It started calm and cordial, but it did not take long for both Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and the challenger for her seat, Democrat Tedra Cobb, to start trading jabs back and forth at what quickly became a heated debate Monday night.


What You Need To Know

  • Republican Elise Stefanik is seeking another term as the representative from New York's 21st Congressional District
  • Democrat Tedra Cobb is making a second run at Stefanik's seat in November's election
  • The race has seen a few issues the two candidates agree on, but disagreements have led to a heated campaign

During the debate, aired on WWNY-TV in Watertown, the two did agree on a few things, including the desire to not see a federal mask mandate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, mostly the discussion focused on differences — such as COVID-19 response — with Stefanik supporting the federal response and Cobb criticizing it, a belief on whether or not Russians put bounties on U.S. military members, and the big one was health care. Stefanik pressed for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act and Cobb pushed for a Medicare public option.

"Every election is a choice Brian," Stefanik said. "Voters deserve to know differences on policy issues. In this race, there are really stark contrasts."

"It's just a very different kind of background and different kind of passion," Cobb added.

This race is also very intertwined with the one at the very top. Over the course of four years, Rep. Stefanik has become a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and vice versa. Presidential candidate Joe Biden just recently offered his endorsement of Tedra Cobb.

"He will invest in infrastructure and education and a health service core," Cobb said of Biden. "All the things that we need in the North Country. It would be an honor to work side-by-side and make those things happen."

"I'm the only candidate in this race that's actually worked with both a Democrat president, when I first took office and delivered results to the district, and a Republican president, Donald Trump, and delivered results to this district," Stefanik said.

But in the end, this election is about what each candidate can do for this district, as well as the country. It's a message they both plan to hammer home over the next two weeks.

"I will work with president to deliver results to this district, to reinvest in our military, to work to lower taxes and reduce regulation and to make health care more affordable, accessible," Stefanik said.

"I've lived here for over 30 years. I've served on a legislature. I've been a volunteer firefighter. I started a community health agency. I've served on numerous boards. I think that's a really big difference," Cobb said.

Both candidates agree that this year's elections are critical for the future and are urging everyone to get out and vote.