From the HERE City National Desk
NEW YORK — Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley sparred over immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies and each other’s allies Wednesday night in their last televised debate before a race that could help decide control of the House.
Lawler, who is seeking a third term in the suburban 17th District, repeatedly tied Conley to a new state law backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul that limits local cooperation with federal immigration agents. He argued that the policy, along with state bail rules, keeps people with criminal records from being handed over to ICE.
Conley, a military veteran, said she supports federal agents deporting violent criminals but defended keeping local tax dollars and police focused on local work rather than federal immigration duties. She also said Lawler votes with President Donald Trump all of the time, a figure Lawler dismissed while pointing to his bipartisan record.
The sharpest exchange came when Conley criticized Lawler for his ties to Rep. Max Miller of Ohio, whose wife has accused him of domestic violence, a claim he denies. Lawler answered by faulting Conley for taking campaign money from Eliot Spitzer, the former governor, and Conley accused him of lecturing her on abuse against women.
Lawler also pressed Conley to condemn recent remarks by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani about the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and she said she denounced them.
The race is close. A recent survey showed Conley ahead 48% to 46%, with 7% undecided, in a district Lawler won by 52% to 45% in 2024 even as it voted for the Democratic presidential nominee.
