Father voted for Trump, son voted for Clinton — Now they're competing for same state House seat

They have been debating politics for years. Now, a father and his son are both running for state office — and they're going after the same seat, The Associated Press reported.

David Quiroa Sr. and David Quiroa Jr. both filed the necessary paperwork on Tuesday to run for a Rhode Island state House seat that is currently held by Democratic state Rep. Marvin Abney. Quiroa Sr. is running as a Republican, while his son is running as an independent.

"He thought I was kidding initially," Quiroa Jr. told the AP. "He thought it was an empty threat. When he said he was going to go, I said I was going to go."

Is the house divided?

Quiroa Jr., 22, is listed as living at the same address as his father, who is 47, in Newport, Rhode Island.

Quiroa Jr. is the oldest of five children. When Quiroa Sr. unsuccessfully ran for the same state House seat more than a decade ago, he brought Quiroa Jr. door-to-door to gather signatures.

During the contentious 2016 campaign, Quiroa Sr. and his wife were "all the way for" President Donald Trump, while Quiroa Jr. came to support Hillary Clinton in the first presidential election he could legally vote in.

The family didn't let the significant political differences come between them, however. In fact, Quiroa Jr. said many families face similar internal disagreements.

What about the decision to run?

The younger Quiroa opted to run as an independent to protest Trump's affiliation with the Republican Party.

He said his father's decision to take another shot at the seat, and his own desire to see young people engaged in politics, motivated him to run against his father.

"It'll be interesting for sure," Quiroa Jr. said. "What better way to argue with my father than on the political level?" Quiroa Jr. said to the AP. "He definitely is a very good motivator. Even if it's to motivate to stop him."

The competition is a friendly one. Quiroa Sr. said it would be "great" if his son beat him. Now, the only question is: Who will his wife and Quiroa Jr.'s mother, Iris, vote for?"

"She could surprise us all and vote for Abney," Quiroa Jr. joked.