Politics
Democratic candidate Cait Conley targets Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York House race
Incumbent Lawler faces challenger Conley in a Hudson Valley battleground district that contains more registered Democrats than Republicans.
The short version
- Democratic challenger Cait Conley, a decorated combat veteran and former National Security Council director, is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York's Hudson Valley district.
- Lawler is campaigning as a moderate capable of pushing back against both parties, while Conley is positioning herself as a pro-military candidate focused on the economy and challenging the Trump administration's platform.
- The race is a key target for national Democrats seeking to regain control of the House of Representatives during the midterm elections.
Key facts
- Rep. Mike Lawler is seeking reelection in a New York district that has more registered Democrats than Republicans.[Associated Press]
- Democrat Cait Conley, a combat veteran and former National Security Council counterterrorism director under President Biden, is challenging Lawler.[Associated Press]
- Lawler first won the House seat in 2022 by defeating Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Sean Patrick Maloney, and secured a second term against former Rep. Mondaire Jones.[Associated Press]
- Lawler has publicly dissented from some administration positions, including opposing President Trump's plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants.[Associated Press]
- Conley has rejected several progressive stances, stating she opposes defunding the police and avoids using the term genocide regarding Israeli military actions in Gaza.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which national economic concerns and foreign policy, such as the war with Iran, will influence voters in the district remains undetermined.[Associated Press]