GOP Challenger’s Democratic Rival Declares Governor ‘Has Got to Go’
Caitlin Conley, seeking to unseat Rep. Mike Lawler, publicly agreed with his assessment of Gov. Kathy Hochul during a campaign event.
In a striking political maneuver, Democratic candidate Caitlin Conley, who is challenging Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District, publicly declared that Gov. Kathy Hochul “has got to go.” Conley’s statement came during a VFW forum in Putnam County on Tuesday night, where Lawler had been criticizing New York’s business climate, citing high taxes and other economic factors.
As Lawler concluded his remarks by stating, “We need a new governor. Kathy Hochul has to go,” Conley, seated beside him, immediately interjected with, “I have to tell you: I’m in absolute agreement with my opponent. Absolute agreement.” Video of the exchange was obtained by The Post.
The moment drew applause from the conservative-leaning audience and a visible reaction from Lawler, who appeared to smile and say, “I set you up on that one.”
Conley, an Army veteran and former national security adviser in the Biden administration, did not offer a defense of the incumbent Democratic governor, who is seeking a second term against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman. Instead, Conley told the veterans group, “We’re not helping you in a moment when you desperately need it.”
She went on to discuss New York’s minimum wage, noting it is among the highest in the country and arguing it puts local businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Conley stated that New York's small business owners “need more support” and that they “deserve better.”
The Conley campaign later issued a statement asserting that Lawler was “lying” about her remarks, though it did not name Hochul. A spokesperson for Conley claimed Lawler was misrepresenting her statement that New York’s small business owners need more support, framing it as a partisan issue that Lawler, “a party-first politician,” could not comprehend.
This is not the first instance of a Democratic congressional candidate distancing themselves from Hochul. Earlier this month, Blake Gendebien, running for the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, declined to say if he would vote for or support Hochul, telling a local radio station that his priority was the success of the North Country.
Despite her public critique, Conley has praised Hochul on other occasions. She has lauded the governor’s moratorium on new data center development and her sanctuary policies. In a recent debate, Conley gave Hochul a “B” grade when asked to rate her performance.
Hochul has previously appeared at a fundraiser for Conley’s campaign. An internal poll released by the Lawler campaign indicated that Hochul trailed Blakeman by four points in the district, with Conley polling at the same percentage as the governor.