WASHINGTON (7News) — In his first re-election bid as Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Brian Schwalb will face challengers from both sides of the political aisle.

Schwalb was elected in 2022 and is facing a Democratic primary election challenge from Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner J.P. Szymkowicz.

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Manuel Rivera is running uncontested in the Republican primary and will advance to the November general election.

7News On Your Side asked all three candidates about public safety, the use of lawsuits to protect District residents, and other top priorities.

Below, you will find the candidates' complete answers to each of these questions.

Brian Schwalb: "I am committed to using the law to make DC safer, stronger and more affordable. That means advancing a comprehensive approach to public safety, where we seek swift and certain consequences for youth who commit violent offenses, work to keep illegal guns out of the District, hold dangerous drivers and environmental polluters accountable, and work to address underlying causes of crime; where we protect DC residents, workers, seniors and tenants from abuse and exploitation; where we level the playing field for businesses by ensuring that the rules apply fairly to everyone; and where we stand up to unlawful attacks on DC’s home rule, funding, and values."

J.P. Szymkowicz: "Crime, crime, crime. We're in a crime crisis here in the District of Columbia. The current attorney general's office has allowed crime to fester. They haven't taken juvenile crime as seriously as it needs to be. And I will ensure that everyone who commits a crime will be held accountable for their actions."

Manuel Rivera: "My top priority is very simple. What people are complaining about every time I go door-to-door: juvenile crime, homelessness, drug addiction, family domestic violence in the city. Those are my top priorities in the city, and also trying to save money for the government. Right now, my opponent is spending too much money on filing flashy lawsuits that end up settling for less than a penny on the dollar. I think we can use private law firms to do those types of lawsuits, and the D.C. government receives an income from those lawsuits, just like a private office refers a case to a law firm and then the victims will also get the benefits. Under the current regime, there's no accountability to show that the victims are receiving those benefits."

The candidates for D.C. attorney general tell 7News their top priorities.