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Ousting a Republican from a Kamala Harris district may not be as easy as it sounds
Democrats are spending more than $40 million as Lawler leans on crossover support in a district where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 70,000.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler faces a challenging reelection in New York's 17th District, one of only three districts held by a Republican that Kamala Harris won in 2024, with over $40 million in spending from both parties.
Active registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the 17th District by more than 70,000, yet Lawler has maintained appeal by highlighting bipartisan bona fides and a willingness to break with President Donald Trump.
First-Time candidate Cait Conley is campaigning with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will join her on the campaign trail in the coming weeks.
During a debate last week, Lawler accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism and demanded Conley denounce him; Conley responded by condemning antisemitism from anyone while noting disagreements with some democratic socialists.
Economic strain remains a top concern for voters; 77-year-old Pleasantville resident Susan Sciascia said she plans to vote for Lawler because "he understands what Americans are experiencing." The race tests retail politics in the district.
Mike Lawler is one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress in this election cycle; he is one of the only three to represent a district won by Kamala Harris in 2024.