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Congressional Rematch In Modesto Getting Heated As Attacks Fly

MODESTO (CBS13) – With 12 days to go until Election Day, the fight for the 10th Congressional District House Seat is on. Incumbent Republican Jeff Denham is hoping to hang onto his seat against Democratic Challenger Michael Eggman.

"I think that a lot of attention now is being focused on Congressional races because a lot of people believe that the presidential race is essentially over," said Allen Sawyer, attorney and political analyst in Stockton.

This is not the first time Denham and Eggman have gone head to head.

Back in 2014, Denham beat Eggman in the race for Congress. The ads this time around have been a brutal repeat of the 2014 election. One pro-Eggman ad aligns Denham with Donald Trump, saying he defended the presidential candidate while building the latest Trump hotel. At the same time, a pro-Denham ad accuses Eggman of being a job killer.

"For Congressman Denham to endorse him, to think Donald Trump should be President, Commander in Chief, it's just another example of how Denham puts party over country," Eggman said. "Really it shines a light on how disconnected he is with the people of the Valley.

The 10th District covers Stanislaus County and part of San Joaquin County. Farming and agricultural issues have taken center stage in the race and neither candidate has been shy about their experience as a farmer.

"When you have an agricultural economy, you have to have water," Denham said to campaign volunteers.

"I talk to my growers and I hear their successes and their struggles and for the past decade, unfortunately I'm hearing far more struggles than successes," Eggman said.

Even though Denham won his seat in 2010, 2012 and 2014, Sawyer said Trump's offensive comments about women and Latinos might make it difficult for Denham to win again.

"At that point they start looking at a person who is associating with the person who is doing those offensive things," Sawyer said.

Earlier this month, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said he could no longer defend Trump. Now, he's standing behind congressional candidates like Denham and trying to secure GOP seats in the House.

"It becomes a personality contest, don't forget that underneath this is an ideas contest," Ryan said. "It's a moment in this country where most of us believe and agree that we're not going in the right direction, but we still have the opportunity on our own to fix these problems and get going in the right direction."

"We've got a lot of opportunities here, but we need the federal government to start solving some of the challenges that we have that are holding us back," Denham said.

Eggman held his own event on Thursday at Stanislaus State, where he spoke to students about water concerns, college affordability and immigration reform.

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