Former President Bill Clinton endorsed Rep. Pat Ryan for the 18th Congressional District seat during a visit Monday afternoon to Middletown.

“I came to campaign for Pat Ryan two years ago because I believed he would be an outstanding member of Congress based on his remarkable life of service. After his first term in office, he’s been even better than I could have imagined," says former President Bill Clinton.

It happened inside Sadie's Books and Beverages, the first Black-owned bookstore in Orange County.

"My gosh, huge is a gross understatement. Having former President Bill Clinton just talking about the gravity of what Nov. 5 means, what's at stake," says Yaa Yaa Whaley-Williams, who owns Sadie's Books and Beverages.

Ryan and Clinton hosted a discussion with local leaders. They touched on issues like combating gun violence, housing costs and small businesses.

News 12 wasn't allowed to film the actual endorsement but captured footage of Clinton mingling inside afterwards. The former president wasn't made available for interviews.

There is a lot on the line in the race between Ryan and his Republican challenger Alison Esposito. It could impact the balance of the House. That's why local leaders in the district say this kind of significant endorsement is huge at this point in the race.

Rep. Ryan agrees.

"To have President Clinton here, to have his support and his kind words and to have him energize and fire up our local leaders, it's a big boost for us," says Ryan.

Esposito's team responded to the endorsement with the following statement:

“Pat Ryan knows he can’t win this election on his record. That’s why he’s desperately calling in the support of AOC, Kathy Hochul, and now withering Bill Clinton. However, the voters of the Hudson Valley know the real Pat Ryan and no matter who he calls to try and clean up his record, we all know he’s a far-left radical, pro-criminal, pro-sanctuary, career politician whose only objective is to save his own neck.”