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Lawler says Conley’s overly scripted soundbites and attempts to conceal her lucrative consulting deals with AI and big tech companies behind NDA’s won’t fly in nation’s top race

Pearl River – June 23, 2026… Congressman Mike Lawler issued the following statement tonight/this morning in response to Cait Conley’s victory in the NY-17 Democratic Primary tonight:

“We all commend Cait’s military service, but the people of the Hudson Valley don’t vote for resumes, they vote for results. Recent media criticism about Cait’s shallow, hyperpartisan campaign are spot on.  Overly scripted soundbites and hyper partisan name-calling backed by millions of dollars from Washington, DC party bosses might win a primary against underfunded local challengers, but it’s not going to win the nation’s most-watched congressional race against someone, like me, with a proven bipartisan record of delivering for this district during both the Biden and Trump Administrations, and standing up to my own party again and again along the way.”

Added Lawler: “That is why I am challenging Cait tonight to six televised debates.  Without the beltway handlers who parachuted her into this district from Virginia there to script her – I look forward to exposing Cait’s hypocrisy of attacking ICE, while getting paid handsomely by AI and big tech companies that do business with ICE.  

I look forward to having her explain why she opposed expanding the SALT deduction and cutting taxes for working families and seniors by an average of $4,000 a year, while letting illegal immigrants access taxpayer-funded healthcare.  

I look forward to questioning her about why she believes she knows how to keep local communities safe better than our local law enforcement, and wants to block them from communicating and cooperating with federal immigration officials. 

I look forward to challenging her embrace of Kathy Hochul’s bone-headed energy policy that has driven costs through the roof. 

And I look forward to contrasting my record as the 4th most bipartisan lawmaker in the entire Congress with Cait’s stated belief that Republicans are ‘the greatest threat to America and our future’ and an enemy from within. Frankly, that is disqualifying rhetoric for someone seeking to represent one of the most politically-balanced and competitive districts in the country.”

Concluded Lawler: “So, c’mon Cait… let’s debate!”

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