Sen. Gillibrand, Sapraicone debate for U.S. Senate seat

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand clashed with Republican freshman Mike Sparaicone during a debate moderated by Spectrum News on Wednesday night.

The two argued over the economy, with Gillibrand, the incumbent Democratic senator, insisting that “people deserve to earn a living wage for the hard work they do in this state.”

Sapraicone, a former NYPD detective, meanwhile, told the debate moderators: “It’s important that everyone gets a fair wage, but the small businesses, if we start giving people a higher minimum wage, we’re cutting, we’re hurting them small businesses.” ”

Sapraicone and Gillibrand have both been pressured about how they plan to vote on Proposition 1: the ballot proposal that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution and ban discrimination based on multiple factors, including gender and race.

“I will vote yes on proposal one,” Gillibrand said. “Make sure you flip your ballot and vote yes on item one. I believe in equality.”

“I’m voting no,” Sapraicone said. “It’s about giving an eight-year-old the decision that he has the right to change his identity from male to female or female to male.”

Gillibrand pushed back, insisting: “You are absolutely wrong. In this country, equality changes have been made in the laws to ensure reproductive rights.”

On democracy, as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face a tight race for the White House, both New York Senate candidates said they would accept the results of the upcoming election.