Both Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and Republican challenger Lynn Jenkins oppose amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage.

The 2nd Congressional District candidates agree marriage issues should be left to the states.

A viewer raised the issue during their first debate Wednesday night.

Boyda endorsed anti-discrimination efforts and said lawmakers should avoid "tampering" with the U.S. Constitution.

But she also said, "I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."

Jenkins also said she opposes gay marriage.

She added: "It's a states' rights issue, and Kansas spoke a few years ago."

Kansas voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution in 2005 to ban same-sex marriage.