LANSDOWNE, Va. 鈥� Democrat Jennifer Wexton launched a series of attacks on incumbent Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock, who also hit back in a debate Friday morning that felt heavily scripted at times.
The 10th Congressional District stretches from the West Virginia line through Loudoun County into McLean along the Potomac River, and is seen as a key race for Democrats if they hope to make significant gains in the House.
Comstock is hoping to head off any so-called blue wave with the help of her incumbency, pointing to her votes for bills such as the Republican tax cut plan and what she called 鈥渁 booming economy.鈥�
鈥淭his election is about results versus the resistance,鈥� Comstock said.
President Trump is one of the issues Wexton raised.
鈥淲e live in a troubling time for our country. We have an administration in Washington that is constantly assaulting many of the values that Americans hold dear,鈥� Wexton said.
She called the GOP tax cut plan the 鈥淐omstock-Trump tax scam,鈥� describing it as unfair to the middle class, with far too much of the benefit going only to the rich
鈥淭hey鈥檙e mortgaging our children鈥檚 and our grandchildren鈥檚 futures by permanently raising the deficit,鈥� Wexton said.
For her part at the debate, sponsored by business groups including the Loudoun Chamber, Comstock charged that Wexton is too liberal, and the focus of the race should be on the economy.
鈥淭hese are results to celebrate and embrace, not resist,鈥� Comstock said. 鈥淣ow we need to make sure we expand on those tax cuts.鈥�
She also promised a push to cut regulations, which Wexton challenged as not always a good thing.
鈥淪aying 鈥榞et out of the way鈥� is a half-baked response. It鈥檚 the government鈥檚 job to regulate externalities and protect its citizens,鈥� Wexton said.
Immigration
Comstock said she would support additional legal immigration if there is a 鈥渇air system鈥� and would particularly want to expand programs such as the H1-B visa so that immigrants are 鈥渉igh-quality workers.鈥�
鈥淚 will continue to work with the business community,鈥� Comstock said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been Republican control of Congress for years, and they鈥檝e sat on their hands and put kids in cages,鈥� Wexton challenged. That drew boos and cheers from supporters each candidate had brought to the ticketed event, and a request for 鈥渙rder please鈥� from the moderator.
鈥淚n Congress, I鈥檒l work for true comprehensive immigration reform,鈥� Wexton promised.
Transportation
Each candidate emphasized the importance of Dulles Airport to the district鈥檚 economy.
Comstock noted the regular fights in Congress to prevent longer flights from Reagan National since members of Congress and many others often prefer to fly from Reagan National when possible due to the convenience.
Comstock also highlighted her ongoing support for the Metro funding promised by the federal government after the deadly 2009 Fort Totten crash. Comstock has introduced Metro funding and reform bills, including one this week, but they have yet to advance. She is currently the only Republican representing a district with a Metro station.
Wexton voted for Virginia鈥檚 funding plan for Metro this year, and she challenged Comstock鈥檚 praise of transportation improvements funded in part by a 2013 state transportation bill that Comstock actually opposed. Outside groups supporting Comstock are now attacking Wexton for praising that funding, which was approved before Wexton joined the General Assembly.
Health care
Wexton promoted her vote this year to expand Medicaid in Virginia as permitted under the Affordable Care Act.
Comstock backed off any push to repeal and replace Obamacare, instead suggesting a 鈥減iece-by-piece, change and reform鈥� approach.
鈥淔or the past 8 years my opponent and Republicans in Congress have been preaching a message of repeal and replace. Their actions show that they have no interest in solutions, only sabotage. Unlike them, when I go to Congress, I鈥檒l work across the aisle to find real solutions,鈥� Wexton said.
Overall, Wexton claimed Comstock has changed positions on a number of issues over her time in office.
鈥淢y opponent is a masterful political chameleon,鈥� Wexton charged.
鈥淢y record is one of getting results on your priorities 鈥� results, not resistance,鈥� Comstock responded.
