Gillibrand, Sapraicone Debate at UAlbany for Congressional Seat

By Mick Reilly | October 28, 2024

Photo Credit: Pixabay

This past Wednesday (10/23), incumbent Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and challenger Mike Sapraicone squared off at a debate hosted at Page Hall on the University at Albany Downtown Campus. The debate lasted little under one hour and was broadcasted live on Spectrum News, and is available to watch in full on their website.

Incumbent Senator Gillibrand, a Democrat, has represented New York in the legislature’s upper house since 2009 after an appointment by former Governor Paterson. Before she began her career in the Senate, Gillibrand served New York’s 20th district in the House of Representatives, and before that as a lawyer. 

Retired NYPD Detective Mike Sapraicone is a relative newcomer to the political scene. Sapraicone began his career as a transit officer for the NYPD in 1980, before getting promoted to Detective, and retiring in 2000. Since then, he has founded his own security company, and written about public safety and security for various publications. He ran for New York's 3rd Congressional District in 2024, but lost the primary. 

The debate, moderated by Spectrum News anchors Errol Louis and Susan Arbetter, covered a variety of issues facing New York voters, including crime, inflation, abortion, immigration, and ballot propositions.

On immigration, Gillibrand assailed Sapraicone and former President Trump’s politics against the bipartisan border deal that was prepared to clear the legislature in February of this year. Sapraicone returned the jive, berating Gillibrand and Senate Dems for not moving the bill, even with a 51 person majority. Gillibrand then reminded her opponent that a bill needs 60 supporters to end debate in the senate. 

Sapraicone argued against the measure, bringing up how he would not want a man in a locker room with one of his four daughters, or illegal immigrants to be protected. Gillibrand rebuked that characterization, arguing that the Equal Rights Amendment measure solely intends to enshrine abortion rights and other protected class rights in our State constitution. 

On crime, Sapraicone returned to the border, calling illegal immigrants “criminals,” and arguing in favor of mass deportation. Gillibrand defended immigration, saying that the United States needed stronger pathways to work legally for migrants.

Candidates then answered questions in a lightning round, some serious, some more lighthearted. Questions ranged from “Is climate change man made?” to “What was the last book you read?.” On the former, both answered yes, though Detective Sapraicone gave some qualifications. On the latter, Gillibrand answered “Lawrence in Arabia: Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East” by Scott Anderson, while Sapraicone butchered the name of “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr Seuss.

The night concluded with a question about farming in New York. Both candidates praised New York farmers, specifically dairy farmers, while Sapraicone attacked Gillibrand for not visiting Western New York enough. 

Voter registration in the state of New York closes on October 26th, while early voting begins that same day. Election day is November 5th, 2024. Visit your county’s board of elections website to find out more details on how to vote.