Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders faced his Republican challenger, real estate broker Lawrence Zupan, in their first televised debate Monday. It was held by Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS. Both men spoke about their stance on issues that matter most to you.

The at times heated debate between Sanders and Zupan covered a wide range of topics, everything from the divisive rhetoric in the country to health care to women's reproductive rights.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: Excuse me, excuse me.

Lawrence Zupan: Those are my thoughts.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: Well, they're pretty pathetic thoughts.

Incumbent Sanders and Zupan of Manchester met face to face in the live, televised debate Monday afternoon. After each candidate spoke about bringing unity to the Senate, climate change and cuts to Social Security, the candidates questioned each other.

"And how will it be believed that if you were re-elected, for the next two years, you will be making Vermonters a priority, over your personal, political and presidential goals?" Zupan asked.

Zupan has often criticized Sanders for being absent from Washington during the 2016 presidential campaign. In this campaign, Sanders has been absent from Vermont. Candidates generally use Senate recesses to campaign in their home states. Sanders has spent considerable time away from Vermont on a nine-state tour campaigning for other progressive candidates.

"And in running all over the country, what I'm really proud of is that in many ways we've changed the political dialogue in America," Sanders said.

As history has shown, re-election to the Senate for Sanders is close to a sure thing. In 2006, he defeated Republican Rich Tarrant, taking more than half of the vote -- 65 percent-32 percent. And an even more dominant victory in 2012, when he defeated Republican John MacGovern-- 71 percent-25 percent.

But Zupan isn't backing down from a fight.

"I ask that we reinvigorate in this digital golden age of Vermont's renaissance the principles that made America great in the first place," Zupan said.

Sanders and Zupan will face off in one more televised debate before the election next week.