5 takeaways from the Congressional District 1 debate between Gabe Amo and Gerry Leonard

With less than a week before Election Day, the two candidates running to represent Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District in Washington faced off on a debate stage for the first time Thursday night.

Democrat Gabe Amo and Republican Gerry Leonard Jr. traded views on Israel, immigration, inflation, gun control, the presidential election, climate change and other topics in a mostly cordial debate on WJAR-TV hosted by Gene Valicenti.

The WJAR debate is one of only two – the other Friday on WPRI-TV – before the Nov. 5 special election to replace David Cicilline in Congress.

Here are five takeaways:

No big punches landed

Unlike last year's battle between Republican Allan Fung and Democrat Seth Magaziner for the 2nd Congressional District seat, Leonard and Amo have largely not attacked each other, and the campaigns have not sparked any notable controversies or flashpoints.

As the underdog, Leonard had every incentive to attack Amo and was the aggressor in most exchanges.

He attacked President Joe Biden, Amo's former boss, for inflation and the number of migrants arriving in New York and Boston.

"Since this current administration came to office, they've created an open-door policy," Leonard said. "I'm all about immigration, but done in a sane way. And I will tell you from my time at the Naval War College teaching, the definition of a nation-state is one that can protect and defends its borders. We are not doing that right now."

But that was about as stinging as it got, and there were no memorable zingers delivered.

Leonard – true to his message of moderate Yankee bipartisanship – turned down the opportunity to go on the offensive about Biden's age or the Hunter Biden investigation.

Israel is popular

The Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks and Israel's military response have resulted in protests and heated debates across the country, but Amo has worked hard to make sure Leonard cannot connect him to progressive critics of Israeli policy.

On Thursday he again backed "unconditional" support for open-ended Israeli military action in Gaza and did not call for a cease-fire or "humanitarian pause" there as some Democrats have.

"I've been very resolute about my support for Israel and saying anything other than that is unfounded," Amo said. "I've been standing with the Jewish community here in our state for a long time, from the time that I was in the governor's office to the people right here in Rhode Island. So I stand with the Jewish people."

Leonard called on Amo to denounce nine Democrats who voted against a resolution passed in the GOP House declaring solidarity with Israel and condemning Hamas.

Amo did not criticize any potential future Democratic colleagues but said "I would've voted in support of Israel, and that is clear."

Fact check

In a discussion of climate change, Leonard criticized Biden for blocking the Keystone XL gas pipeline and for pursuing offshore wind projects, which he described as "industrializing our oceans."

"Domestic oil production has grown in the Biden administration," Amo countered.

Leonard: "We're not a net exporter, though, and we need to get back to be a place where we are a net exporter to around the world."

Who is right?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States became a "total petroleum net exporter" in 2020 and continued as such through last year.

What do they drive?

Both candidates said they believe climate change is real and caused by man, to which Valicenti asked if they drive electric vehicles or own solar panels.

Neither candidate has an electric car or solar panels at home.

Leonard said he drives a Ford pickup truck.

Amo said he drives a Toyota Rav4 compact SUV, but hopes his next vehicle purchase is electric.

Closing statements

Leonard: "I'm running for Congress to wage a war on extremism and bring back common sense to Washington D.C. For far too long we've seen the far left and the far right. Take a country away from us. I'm going to Washington, D.C. to take that back. I've served in the military for 30 years. I've led Marines in every climb in place. Never in that time did I look at the man on my right and left and said, 'What is your political party?' We worked together. We came up with common solutions to solve problems and that is what I plan on doing in Washington D.C., across party lines.

Amo: I'm the son of a liquor store owner and a nursing home nurse who has had the opportunity to serve two friends at the White House and a governor right here in Rhode Island.

"And I know that we share values of hard work, determination and resilience to make sure our communities are strong. We cannot afford to send someone to join the Caucus of Chaos in Washington Extreme House Republican Majority led by this new speaker, Mike Johnson. What we need is someone who is committed to strengthening Social Security, fighting gun violence, working aggressively to make sure we have jobs in the supply chains of the future."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Gabe Amo and Gerry Leonard showed mostly partisan contrasts in debate