Nicole Malliotakis, Max Rose face off in rematch for 11th Congressional district
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2-1 across New York State, and in NYC, the number is 7-1.
Currently every NYC Congressional district is represented by a Democrat - except for one: the 11th, which includes all of Staten Island and some parts of southern Brooklyn.
Republican Nicole Malliotakis represents the district. Two years ago she narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Max Rose and now the two are facing off once again.
Two years ago, Rose gave an emotional farewell speech to Congress but he clearly hopes that goodbye was not final.
The aspiring Democratic comeback is embroiled in a scrappy rematch for the 11th Congressional district with the person who unseated him.
"Nicole Malliotakis could have stopped shootings like this. Instead, she voted against an assault weapons ban and background checks," a Rose TV campaign ad claims
"There are some people who love Max Rose's pro-crime agenda. The very people who belong behind bars," a Malliotakis campaign ad claims.
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Both candidates hit the streets before Election Day to get their message out to constituents about the most pressing issues.
Their positions on the most pressing issues like inflation, abortion and crime more or less fall along party lines.
"I believe every community and every family deserves safe streets, I believe that every man and every woman in uniform deserves a salary that commemorates the sacrifice they make every day," Rose said.
"There's a clear contrast here and I believe people are going to vote Republican for public safety, to control inflation, to get these cost of living issues under control," said Malliotakis.
The candidates also took their conversation about women's physical health and safety to a new level.
"Of course, how can you say you're for freedom, freedom for all, when you stay opposed to a woman's right to make her own reproductive health decisions," Rose said.
"Nothing will change on the issue of abortion, we have the most late term law in the country, but a woman should have the right to feel safe," Malliotakis said.
Malliotakis and Rose made their case to voters on "Up Close with Bill Ritter" last month.
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"We have seen the pendulum swing too far to the left and we are seeing under one party Democrat rule, at the federal level and the state level multiple crisis form," Malliotakis said.
"We've got to tackle head on the crisis of public safety and affordability in the United States," Rose said.
The margins in the race are just as slim as they were two years ago. However this is their first bout in the newly redrawn 11th Congressional district - creating a gripping cliffhanger for Election Day.
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