William J. Kemble is reporting for the Daily Freeman incumbent U.S, Rep. Antonio Delgado and one of his four challengers, Republican Kyle Van De Water, faced off in a televised debate Thu., Oct. 15. Throughout the event, televised on WMHT-TV, Van De Water labeled the Rhinebeck Democrat as "far left;" Delgado responded by saying he has spent the past two years meeting with constituents who are trying to deal with issues rather than labels. “There’s a lot of anxiety, a lot of pain, a lot of hurt across the country all throughout New York 19,” he said. “I know because I’m going all throughout the district talking to small business owners, talking to farmers, health care workers, firefighters, teachers, and I can hear the pain in people’s voices, the uncertainty around the corner.” Van De Water, of Millbrook, said he is "running for Congress because the far left has failed the United States of America, and I believe my opponent is part of the far left." Dan Clark, host of the statewide public affairs program "New York NOW," moderated the debate. Ed McKinley, from the Times Union, and WAMC Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne served as panelists. The differences between the candidates were clear on most issues, Kemble writes. The conversation ran the gamut, from taxes, the economy, COVID-19, the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett , the potential expansion of the Supreme Court, political discord in the U.S., green jobs, climate and agriculture. Green Party candidate Steven Greenfield, Libertarian candidate Victoria Alexander and write-in candidate Ola Hawatmeh were not invited to the debate. Read the full summary in the Daily Freeman.

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