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Reporter: Cory Marshall

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Less than one month from the November election, the Southern Arizona Congressional District 2 campaign is heating up.

9OYS spoke with Democratic candidate and current Congressional District 8 Representative, Ron Barber and GOP nominee, Martha McSally.

9OYS asked each nominee the same question but their answers varied.

With a majority of politicians running on the prospect of change; we asked both candidates what they feel calls for the biggest change in Tucson?

"First we got to get people back to work and get the economy going again-- Washington, D.C. has just failed. They're more concerned about the next election instead of the next generation. There's these looming potential tax increases, new regulations and mandates that are coming on small businesses," said McSally.

"Well I think the biggest change we can bring to the Congress which also will help Tucson and will help all of the region and the whole country is to stop the gridlock. People are sick and tired of a Congress that is not doing its job. I voted against adjournment because we should have stayed back in Washington and gotten on with some of the big important issues that are plaguing are country," said Barber.

Putting partisan issues aside, both McSally and Barber agree more needs to be done near Arizona's border.

"There's cartels trafficking in and out of our neighborhoods as we've seen and this is [a] very serious threat. So, I'm going to lead that fight in D.C. to make sure that we actually secure our border. I know how to do intelligence driven operations using a combination of fences and barriers where appropriate; plus manpower at the border; plus sensors; plus airborne assets to actually detect, monitor and intercept illegal activity," said McSally.

"We've done a lot over the last several years but there's more to be done. My major concern as I look at the border is that while we've built up major cities in Nogales and Douglas and certainly to the west in Yuma and in San Diego--we've pushed the cartels into the open areas east of Douglas," said Barber.

"I'm on the Homeland Security Committee and as a result of being appointed to that committee I have a platform from which I can advocate for border security, sensible smart border security, more boots on the ground close to the border, more mobile surveillance systems and other technology. We can get this job done," continued Barber.

Getting back to the basics, 9OYS asked both candidates the most simple campaign question; "Why should you be elected?"

"This election is about leadership. People are tired of Washington, D.C. kicking the can and not doing their job.The people of Southern Arizona are looking for someone who is going to fight for them, lead the effort in Washington, D.C. and get the economy going again to secure our border,  to make health care available, to fix our education system and to protect us from the threats that are out there-- that's someone who has the experience of leadership, proven education, you know the results that I've gotten in a 26 year career in [the] military," said McSally.

"I know what needs to be done. I've introduced three bills that I want to shepherd through the Congress. Two of which are helping veterans and the other deals with border security and we have a fully functional office here in both D.C. and in Tucson and we want to continue that work, particularly our constituent work [and] be up and running within 36 hours of the election," said Barber.