Candidates to replace Rep. Michael Grimm are clashing publicly for the first time, specifically over the Staten Island District Attorney's record. NY1’s Courtney Gross filed the following report.

Vincent Gentile and Dan Donovan are following the campaign trail to Washington D.C.

"I will be meeting with some labor groups,” said Gentile, the Democratic candidate.

"Between the next two days, we are scheduled to have about 29 different meetings,” said Donovan, the Republican candidate.

Both candidates for Congress are planning to spend the next few days in the nation's capital, courting donors and wooing party officials and it appears the ways of Washington are already settling in. 

On Monday, they were clashing for the first time.

"He is more likely to be that same kind of guy that goes with the party and the mass rather than take some stands,” said Gentile.

"There is nothing else to say and that's what he decided to say. He didn't substantiate that with anything. He just threw out a statement. So I don't have a response to it,” said Donovan.

They were disputing the district attorney's record. Gentile arguing if elected Donovan would simply tow the GOP line.

He is not a leader so says the Democrat, citing the case of Eric Garner, who died while being arrested by police. No one was charged in the case.

Gentile has called for the release of the grand jury transcripts. Donovan, whose office oversaw the case, says that's against the law.

"Talk about the process. Be out there. Talk to people. Face the people of Staten Island. Face the people of New York City,” said Gentile.

"He claims to have been a prospector in the past, so I thought he would either know what the criminal procedure laws are and the restrictions that a district attorney has about grand jury proceedings. Either that or he would ignore them so I don't understand what his position is on that,” said Donovan.

Both candidates were expected to try to shore up support from party leaders while in Washington.

Gentile, for one, was planning to meet with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The important group is widely perceived to be sitting this special election out, seeing the seat as unwinnable in the short term.

"I would love to have DCCC involved in terms of helping financially or otherwise and they are willing to sit down and listen,” said Gentile.

A committee spokesman told NY1 it is "keeping an eye" on the race.