San Francisco (CNN) Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein debated a general election opponent for the first time in nearly two decades on Wednesday night, with her challenger, California State Sen. Kevin de León, arguing forcefully that it was time for new leadership in Washington to spearhead the resistance against President Donald Trump.

"It's time that we stop biding our time and biting our tongue while this President unravels legislation crafted in California," De León said in his first and only face-to-face debate with Feinstein.

"We cannot move California's progress forward if the status quo keeps resisting the resistance in the progress here in California," De León said. "I do believe it's time for a new approach. I do believe it's time for a new voice. It's time for a change."

But armed with legislative accomplishments that stretch over more than two decades, Feinstein parried back with examples of how she had used her seniority and knack for bipartisanship to produce results for California: from the assault weapons ban that she authored, to the water bill that she crafted with Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to bring more water to farmers in the Central Valley.

The discussion was a genteel denouement in this David-versus-Goliath-style contest for Feinstein's Senate seat, which she has held since she won the special election to replace Republican Pete Wilson in 1992.

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