Polls have shown that the congressional race in New Jersey’s District 7 will be tight.

Republican Rep. Leonard Lance is fighting for his political future against Democratic challenger Tom Malinowski, a former assistant secretary of state to former President Barack Obama.

"My opponent is significantly to the left on all of the major issues," says Lance.

On News 12 New Jersey’s “Power and Politics” show, Lance mentions the fact that Malinowski has not disavowed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

"Certainly if the new Congress is controlled by Nancy Pelosi- and Mr. Malinowski supports Nancy Pelosi..." notes Lance.

But Malinowski said that he never said that he supported Pelosi -- though he declines to disavow the controversial former Speaker as other Democratic candidates have done this season.

“I will only give my vote to a speaker of the House who promises me that he or she will put a bill on the floor to restore the [State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction] early in the next session,” Malinowski said. “Can you make the same promise? Can you get us a speaker who will do that?”

Malinowski says that he hopes to be one of the candidates elected on Election Day, Nov. 6 – rising a wave of opposition to President Donald Trump. He has pledged to defend the Affordable Care Act and support gun safety measures.

“When the lines of truth and common decency that define us as Americans were crossed we came together to defend them. I see those lines being crossed every single day right now, things that I fought for on behalf of our country,” he said.

Rep. Lance emphasized moderate stances he's taken, such as voting against the most recent effort to repeal the ACA, and against the federal tax reform law.  He is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

"Whichever party controls it will be by a narrow margin, and we in the center will have great influence come January," says Lance.

At Monmouth University poll showed Malinowski at 47 percent and lance at 39 percent support, with 12 percent undecided.

Stay with News 12 New Jersey for more on the state’s congressional races.