Most dramatic moments from Rep Mike Lawler's fiery debate against Dem Cait Conley in battle for House control

Tensions flared on the debate stage Wednesday night, where Rep.

Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., faced off against Democrat military veteran Cait Conley to represent their suburban New York district in Congress .

Lawler is vying for a third term representing the Empire State 's 17th Congressional District.

One of the few swing seats left in Congress, the race could prove decisive for which party controls the House of Representatives for the latter half of President Donald Trump's term.

Below are some of the most dramatic moments during their one-hour head-to-head on PIX11 News: HOW ONE NYC SUBURB COULD DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE HOUSE While the debate was filled with the two political rivals criticizing each other, one tense moment came when Lawler turned his ire on moderator Dan Mannarino.

Mannarino had asked both Conley and Lawler what should be done to rein in Immigration and U.S.

Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agents who run afoul of their own guidelines, invoking the recent shooting of an illegal immigrant in the Bronx by federal officers while the man's five-year-old was in the car.

Lawler pointed to the man's rap sheet and accused Democrat state leaders of creating the situation with their sanctuary policies and Gov.

Kathy Hochul's recent bail reforms .

He also accused Conley of supporting those policies.

The moderator began, "Mr.

Lawler, I just want to follow up.

The question was, how do you ensure if ICE agents do not follow through objectives, and what's the discipline —" "I understand the question," Lawler said amid the cross-talk.

PROTESTS ERUPT IN THE BRONX AFTER ICE AGENT SHOOTS MAN DURING IMMIGRATION OPERATION "But you didn't answer the question," Mannarino said.