A Federal Election Commission complaint alleges that the campaign of New York House Democratic candidate Cait Conley violated election law by coordinating with outside groups through a political operative. Conley is challenging Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the 17th District, a race considered competitive by analysts.
The complaint, filed by Andres Gil, chairman of the Putnam County Republican Party and an ally of Lawler, centers on Jackie Rosa, described as a spokesperson for Conley's campaign who was allegedly compensated by outside political organizations rather than the campaign itself. The complaint states that Rosa simultaneously served as a de facto communications spokesperson for the Conley Committee and was paid by at least one outside political organization, MD PAC and Precinct, for that work. Precinct LLC is also an entity that the Conley Committee paid as a campaign consultant.
According to the complaint, Rosa introduced herself as being with Conley's team, provided on-the-record statements to reporters, arranged for a surrogate to defend Conley, and circulated an opposition memo against a primary rival. These actions occurred while the Conley Committee did not directly pay for Rosa's services. The complaint notes that the committee's disclosed payments to Precinct were $20,000 in August 2025, months before the alleged services took place, and no payments were reported to Rosa directly.
The complaint asserts that payment for Rosa's services by another group constitutes an in-kind contribution to the Conley Committee, potentially exceeding campaign contribution limits and violating election law. It also points to potential coordination through a common vendor, noting the August 2025 payments from Conley's campaign to Precinct, where Rosa is tied.
While coordination among outside groups is not illegal, coordination between an outside group and a candidate could be, the complaint argues. "That combination presents two related, investigable violations of the [Federal Election Campaign] Act," Gil wrote in his Aug. 14 complaint.
Representatives for the Conley campaign and associated Democratic groups have dismissed the complaint. Maddy Rosen, a spokesperson for the Conley campaign, called the complaint "BS" and a tactic by Lawler's team. Andrew Mamo, a spokesman for The Bench, a group supporting moderate Democrats, stated the complaint is "frivolous" and from a "desperate man." They allege Lawler's campaign has paid significant sums to a consulting firm he co-founded.
The race between Lawler and Conley has been rated a toss-up by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia and The Cook Political Report. Fox News Power Rankings recently shifted the race from even to "Lean D."