NEW YORK (PIX11) – Democratic U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan and Republican Alison Esposito, the two candidates running to represent New York’s 18th Congressional District, faced off in a debate on PIX11 Wednesday night.

New York’s 18th Congressional District spans the mid-Hudson Valley and includes Orange County and most of Dutchess and Ulster counties.

The race between Ryan and Esposito is among the most closely watched in the nation. The outcome could impact the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ryan is leading Esposito 48% to 43% in the race, according to a recent poll from PIX11, The Hill and Emerson College.

Ryan was first elected to represent NY-18 in a special election in 2022. He is a retired military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army.

Esposito is a retired NYPD deputy inspector and precinct commanding officer. She previously ran as a candidate for New York lieutenant governor alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, who lost to Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2022 general election.

The 60-minute debate, moderated by PIX11’s Henry Rosoff, aired live on PIX11, PIX11.com, and the PIX11+ streaming app. The debate was followed exclusively on PIX11+ by a 30-minute post-debate program, which featured an analysis of the candidates’ answers and the state of the race.

This live blog has been archived.