Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is calling on Democratic House hopeful Cait Conley to publicly disavow the stances of socialist candidates endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as the race for New York's 17th Congressional District intensifies.
Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive Democrat, recently endorsed Conley following her primary victory. The endorsement also highlighted three other socialist candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, including Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila-Chevalier. These candidates have advocated for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), defunding the police, and are outspoken critics of Israel.
"Which is it, Cait: do you reject AOC and the candidates who want to abolish ICE, defund the police, and tear down our borders, or do you embrace them?" Lawler campaign manager Ciro Riccardi stated in a press release. "The Hudson Valley deserves an answer, and so far all we've heard is your damning silence."
Conley, a former Biden administration official and a decorated Army combat veteran, has largely refrained from directly addressing the controversial statements made by some of the socialist candidates. In a recent interview, when asked about candidates who support prison abolition and have made remarks interpreted as justifying 9/11, Conley spoke about her own background and commitment to national security, referencing her service stemming from the 9/11 attacks.
Conley's general election opponent, Lawler, a Republican representing the swing district, has sought to tie her to the more progressive elements within the Democratic Party. The Republican campaign has also previously scrutinized Conley's role on the National Security Council, questioning her description of her involvement in the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The 17th Congressional District is considered a key battleground, rated as a "toss-up" by the Cook Political Report. While Democrats hold a voter registration advantage, the district was narrowly won by Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. National Republicans are expected to heavily support Lawler's bid for a third term in the closely watched contest.