What if, in a local congressional race, the candidates seemed to agree on nearly everything?

There are many months until the Sept. 4 Democratic primary. But last week US Representative Michael E. Capuano and his Democratic primary challenger, Ayanna Pressley, a city councilor, answered questions before students at Emerson College on consecutive evenings.

And yes, they differed on the subject of their most passionate comments (Capuano’s on his vote against the Patriot Act and the importance of civil liberties; Pressley’s on the need for more empathy and compassion in government), as well as their elocution (Capuano’s words reflecting his Somerville upbringing; Pressley’s reflecting her Chicago roots).

But the policy positions of the two progressive politicians struck many of the same notes.

For instance, public transportation is one of the most pressing matters facing the Seventh Congressional District, which includes Somerville, Chelsea, Everett, Randolph, half of Cambridge, one-third of Milton, and most of Boston.

“I really do look at transportation as an absolute equity issue,’’ said Capuano, who emphasized that public transit should be affordable and reliable, and government must invest in the system.

“Transit — my advocacy has always been around the lines of ensuring that access to transit is equitable, that it is affordable, and that it is reliable,’’ said Pressley. “This transit thing is relevant to everyone, and we’ve got to make the necessary investments.’’

Both expressed dismay about the lack of affordable housing.

“We’re not being dramatic to say that it is a crisis,’’ said Pressley, who said calls about housing issues are the most frequent she receives from constituents in her office. “Displacement and this housing crisis is a public health epidemic.’’

“Housing cost is the one thing right now that is going to stunt the growth of Greater Boston,’’ said Capuano to the audience of students. “You might be the best-qualified person in the world to do whatever it is you want to, but you won’t be able to afford to live here. And you’re going to be forced to move out. . . . I think that’s horrendous.’’

Pressley and Capuano answered questions about climate change, substituting anecdotes about their efforts in Congress and on the City Council for a detailed policy agenda.

Pressley, a black woman who lives in Dorchester, in January announced her bid against Capuano, a white man who lives in Somerville. In a series of interviews around her campaign launch, she emphasized the new lens she would bring to Congress, rather than underscoring any policy disagreements with the incumbent.

“When you have issues that are being developed through a completely monolithic and homogenized prism, everyone suffers for that,’’ said the Dorchester resident at the time. (Not one of the 11 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation is black or Hispanic.)

The Emerson event, during which the candidates answered students’ questions, was moderated by an Emerson sophomore, David Fadul.

A registered voter, Fadul said after both events that he remained undecided regarding whom he would vote for.

After all, “a lot of things can happen between now and September.’’

Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com.