New York US Senate and House Candidates Spar on Debate Stage as Election Day Looms

U.S. Senate candidates Kirsten Gillibrand and Mike Sapraicone and U.S. House contenders Nick LaLota and John Avlon clash on a range of issues.

(Left) Mike Sapraicone in Binghamton, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 2024. (Courtesy of the Broome County Republican Committee); (Right) Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in Dubuque, Iowa, on March 19, 2019. Scott Olson/Getty Images

As Nov. 5 draws near, candidates in two of New York state’s most closely watched races got their final chance to debate their opponents and set forth an agenda for 2025 and beyond.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) debated Republican challenger Mike Sapraicone, a former New York City homicide detective, while incumbent U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) took the stage to spar with Democratic challenger John Avlon, a onetime speechwriter for former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.