The future of Indian Point, taxes, jobs, energy and reproductive rights are among the key issues dividing the candidates for New York’s 40th state Senate District, which covers parts of northern Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.

Democratic state Sen. Pete Harckham is seeking a fifth term and is campaigning on fighting climate change, finding cleaner and more affordable energy solutions and protecting reproductive freedoms statewide.

“We take the job very seriously and it's not just about the big headline issues. It's the thousands of constituent cases that we handle every year,” Harckham said.

Republican challenger Sergio Esposito, a Yorktown town councilman and deputy town supervisor, is focusing on bringing good-paying jobs back to the district, lowering taxes and increasing government transparency.

“If you want to have, you know, real solutions for real people and that's what I'm offering. I'm offering a practical, pragmatic, down-to-earth, solutions-based approach,” Esposito said.

One of the sharpest differences between the candidates is the future of Indian Point. Harckham strongly opposes reopening the defunct nuclear power plant, while Esposito is pushing to reopen it.