ALBANY, N.Y. — The Democrats racing towards New York’s 21st Congressional District went head to head in a primary debate Thursday night.
The debate, hosted by CBS 6 out of the Albany area, gave constituents the chance to hear from dairy farmer Blake Gendebien and entrepreneur Stuart Amoriell on key issues.
One of those issues included the candidates’ thoughts on the Iran war.
Amoriell said he was in support of Congress exercising the War Powers Resolution.
“Iran is an enemy of the United States. They are an enemy of peace in the region… an enemy of peace around the world,” Amoriell said.
He said Iran was not an “imminent” threat.
“The actions of one unstable man made unilaterally and in violation of the Constitution have made Americans less safe by undermining our international alliances and relationships,” he said.
He said Americans don’t want to be spending billions of dollars daily on “another needless war.” He said a war like the one in Iran raises prices at the pump and the lives of American soldiers.
“It is time that Congress stops advocating its constitutional authority, exercises the War Powers Act, and brings an end to the Iranian conflict,” Amoriell said.
Gendebien said the ayatollah was a “terrible” dictator who committed “horrific” humanitarian rights violations, and he said “we could never” let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
He said the conflict has driven up the cost of gas, fuel and fertilizer.
“We have to remember that rural districts like this one make up just 16% of the nation’s population, yet almost 50% of its military recruits every year come from rural districts just like ours,” Gendebien said.
He said the country disproportionally send our “sons and daughters” to these conflicts.
“In Congress, I will work to assert our War Powers authority before any more of our young people die and before our costs just continue to go through the roof,” Gendebien said. “That’s what I’ll do for the North country and Upstate New York.”
In connection to the conflict in Iran, both candidates were asked about what they would do to lower gas prices.
“In addition to lowering the cost of gas coming into the country, we need to end our dependence on foreign oil and oil in general,” Amoriell said. “This is where green energy solutions are so valuable.”
Gendebien said the gas prices are “crushing us.”
“So much of it is tied to the chaos of these international conflicts,” he said. “We have to work to assert the War Powers authority.”
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed $70 billion dollars in funding for the Department of Homeland Security for the entirety of Trump’s second term. The funding would specifically go towards ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Both candidates were asked how far immigrations enforcement should go by the moderator.
Gendebien said the immigration system is broken and the border needs to be secured.
“We need to deport violent criminals who are here illegally with due process,” he said. “Every law enforcement agency needs to operate the same with transparency and accountability… I want to work to solve this problem; it is a priority of mine.”
Amoriell said the country needs to protect the borders and protect Americans.
“We need to dismantle and replace ICE as we know it and replace it with an immigration enforcement agency that respects the rule of law, due process and the dignity of all people,” he said.
The Republicans in the race are Assemblyman Robert Smullen and businessman Anthony Constantino.
On Thursday night, the Republicans vying for New York’s 21st Congressional District participated in a debate exploring key issues.
New York’s primary is June 23. Early voting starts this Saturday and ends June 21.
The Democrats racing towards New York’s 21st Congressional District went head to head in a primary debate Thursday night.