The political world is still reacting days after News 12 held an exclusive and explosive first debate between Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

The two men are vying for the Democratic party's nod in the election for New York's 16th Congressional district. The pair didn't hold anything back as they sparred over each other's records and policy issues.

The debate covered critical district topics. like the impact of the Israel-Hamas war, public safety, abortion, housing and infrastructure.

Pace University political science professor Kerriann Stout spoke with News 12's Jonathan Gordon about the most impactful moments, the state of the Democratic party in New York and the biggest takeaways.

"If you just turned on the TV to watch that debate, it might not have been immediately clear that these two guys are playing for the same team, and I think when you have a lot of diverted interests within the political party, you get that type of schism," Stout said.