During a Monday debate at the studios of WFMZ-TV, incumbent Democrat Madeleine Dean and Republican challenger Christian Nascimento laid out their cases for voters to make their choice for the 4th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The debate will be aired in its entirety on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. on the station.

The pair opened with a debate over the direction of the country. A CNN/SSRS poll that was released earlier in the day indicated that 44 percent of the respondents said the economy was their chief issue when heading to the polls, while 63 percent thought that Pennsylvania’s economy was getting worse.

Dean acknowledged the concerns but pivoted to say that it was just not a Pennsylvania problem, but in fact a global issue. She noted that she was “proud of the work we’ve done to move this country in the right direction” through her work in Congress.

Nascimento disagreed with Dean and sided with the majority in the survey, noting that Democratic spending programs in Congress are partially to blame.

“The Democrats’ spend more and tax more policy is exacerbating the problem,” Nascimento said.

The pair sparred over the so-called Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Dean supported the bill, saying it will reduce the deficit and lower inflation, while investing in domestic energy production and lowering healthcare costs. “It is not going to change things this minute,” Dean noted. “It will take time.”

The GOP nominee disagreed with Dean, saying the Inflation Act isn’t the solution, but part of the problem. He added increased government spending results ultimately in higher free market prices and advocated for more “strategic” spending programs to reduce inflation.

Nascimento said he would take a hard line on the issue of crime in the 4th District, stating if you want to deter crime “you have to prosecute criminals.” He said that police with whom he had spoken had told him “they are afraid to arrest people.”

Dean noted Republicans did nothing to address the underlying problem of gun violence. She cited the Safer Communities Act, which outlawed “ghost guns,” that few Republicans supported.

“It’s one thing for Republicans” to make us afraid of it, it’s another thing to do something about it,” she said.

The summer’s hot button issue of reproductive rights also highlighted the differences between the two candidates. Dean called the Supreme Court’s June decision “corrupt” and “an unjust ruling.” “I cannot believe this country would relegate women to second class citizens.”

Nascimento supported the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying “I believe it (legalization) should be in the hands of the states.”

Dean is looking for a third term in Washington.