HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The six Democratic Party candidates for Pennsylvania’s 10th District – Shamine Daniels, Mike O’Brien, Rick Coplen, Blank Lynch, Janelle Stelson, and John Broadhurst – took center stage Wednesday night in the abc27 studio for their first televised debate.

The first topic centered around the economy, which 40% of Pennsylvania voters reported as their top issue.

Every candidate on stage agreed that the federal minimum wage needs to be raised to at least $15 an hour.

“I will ensure that that’s one of my top priorities,” Coplen said.

“I’d like to see state lawmakers and Congress live on the minimum wage for just a month. I think it’s nearly impossible,” Stelson added.

Stelson, who currently lives in Lancaster County, was asked if she would move to the district if she won the primary, and she said yes.

Cheaper childcare, tax reform, and social security were also mentioned.

“We made promises to them a long time ago, they paid into (entitlement) systems,” Lynch said. “Including myself, I paid into a system. We as the USA continue to keep our commitment to the rest of the world. We need to keep our commitment to all of you?”

When asked if the United States should increase the social security tax on wealthier earners, Broadhurst said “Yes of course.”

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The Israel-Hamas war was also a defining moment. O’Brien was the only candidate who said he approved of President Biden’s handling of the war.

“As a Jew this issue is extremely personal for me. I’ll say the attacks of October 7, they were horrific, they were barbaric, they were inhumane. And I support Israel’s right defend itself against terrorist organizations like Hamas,” he said. “However time for diplomacy, we are long overdue for diplomacy here. And let me be clear that I support a ceasefire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages.”

“Part of our role in the world is because of our moral standing and in the moment President Biden did not stand strong on our Geneva Convention violations – we failed globally,” added Daniels.

Candidates were also asked if they supported a ceasefire in the region.

“There could be another ceasefire if Hamas returned the hostages, including the Americans,” Stelson said.

“I’m tired of hearing about kids starving to death in Gaza, let alone having bombs dropped on them,” O’Brien said.

The issue of immigration at the southern border was also posed to the candidates.

“The truth is that the crisis at the border is created by far-right Republicans,” Daniels, an immigration attorney, argued.

Everyone agreed something needs to be done, some saying there needs to be a path to citizenship, especially for so-called dreamers in the DACA program.

Candidates also called on more money for education, saying schools need to be fairly funded.

“You have school districts that lack resources and yet still have a lot of students and then you have private schools which are siphoning off funds,” Broadhurst said.

“I’ve been shining a bright light on our issues and advocating for people here,” Stelson said. “I’ve been holding the powerful accountable, including Scott Perry.”

“There is nothing more important than the education of our children,” Coplen said. “We have to have that mindset.”

Every candidate also said they support a woman’s right to choose, with no exceptions. Many also advocated for an assault weapons ban, while O’Brien and Lynch said they do not support taking guns away from owners.

Incumbent Republican Scott Perry’s campaign spokesperson Matt Beynon responded to the debate, saying in part, quote “Tonight, voters in the 10th congressional district saw a field of Democrats clamoring to become Biden’s running mate this fall.”

Perry is running unopposed in the April Republican primary.

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