Republican candidates for the state Senate seat in the 40th District squared off Wednesday in a special News 12 debate.

Former Assemblyman Bob Castelli and Yorktown Councilman Terrence Murphy are both running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Greg Ball, who decided not to run for re-election. Ball has backed Murphy in the race.

The two candidates agreed on most major issues. Both were critical of the New York Safe Act in the debate and vowed to protect the Second Amendment.

Murphy also denied having anything to do with an anonymous mailing earlier in the campaign that targeted Castelli as pro-abortion, while Murphy is pro-life. Castelli says he is personally against abortion, but does not believe it's the government's role to decide. He says he takes Murphy's word that he was not responsible for the mailing.

The primary will be held next week. The winner will face Justin Wagner, an attorney from Croton who unsuccessfully ran against Ball in 2012.