Cait Conley Challenges Mike Lawler, Pledges to Restore ‘American Values’ in NY-17 Race

VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. — Calling for a return to ‘patriotic and American values,’ Democratic congressional candidate Cait Conley has outlined her campaign priorities, promising to fight corruption, corporate influence and rising living costs as she seeks to unseat Republican Congressman Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District.

Addressing voters at a campaign event held at Sitar Palace in Orangeburg , led by Kuruvilla Cherian, Conley highlighted her four-generation family roots in the region and her extensive military and national security background. A West Point graduate, former Army Special Operations officer and former White House director for counterterrorism, she presented her candidacy as a commitment to public service and accountability.

Conley said her family has deep ties to the Hudson Valley. Her great-grandfather and grandfathers worked in the Montrose brickyards, her father was a union construction worker, and her mother served 48 years in the U.S. Postal Service.

Inspired by the September 11 terrorist attacks while she was in junior high school, Conley joined the military after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She completed six combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of special operations.

She later served on the White House National Security Council staff as Director for Counterterrorism and worked as a senior adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where she led federal election security efforts during the 2024 election cycle.

“I’m running for the same reason I raised my hand after 9/11. It’s because I love this country. I believe in the promise of it,” Conley said, emphasizing that democracy requires active participation and courage.

Taking aim at incumbent Mike Lawler, Conley accused him of prioritizing party leadership, corporate interests and wealthy donors over working families. She criticized his position on tax legislation, particularly the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap, arguing that it places an unfair financial burden on New Yorkers.

She also accused Lawler of breaking promises to protect essential safety-net programs by supporting legislation that led to cuts in Medicaid and nutrition assistance. Highlighting corporate influence in local development, she alleged that wealthy donors and corporate interests received greater consideration than middle-class communities.

If elected, Conley pledged to introduce sweeping government ethics reforms, including banning stock trading by members of Congress, political appointees and White House officials. She also called for term limits for lawmakers and Supreme Court justices.

Addressing the rising cost of living, she proposed stronger oversight of utility companies to prevent them from passing executive benefits and lobbying expenses on to consumers. Her other priorities include expanding Medicare's authority to negotiate prescription drug prices, capping federal student loan interest rates and broadening public service loan forgiveness for teachers, nurses, first responders and law enforcement officers.

During the question-and-answer session, Conley stressed the need for federal regulation of artificial intelligence, warning against repeating the mistakes made during the rise of social media. Drawing on her cybersecurity experience, she said safeguards were essential to protect national security, critical infrastructure and personal data.

On immigration, she called for stronger border security to combat drug cartels and human trafficking while maintaining America's tradition of welcoming immigrants. She advocated comprehensive immigration reform to address processing backlogs and establish clear legal pathways.

Regarding foreign policy, Conley said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. However, she criticized executive overreach and inadequate congressional oversight of military engagements, emphasizing diplomacy, international security and the protection of global energy routes.

Conley concluded by urging voters across party lines to participate in the election, describing the congressional race as an opportunity to prioritize shared community values over partisan divisions.