Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Cait Conley defeats Mike Lawler in New York House race
Democrat Cait Conley is projected to defeat Republican Rep.
Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District, in the Hudson Valley north of New York City.
Lawler, who held the seat since 2023, called Conley to concede while vote-counting continued after polling-place issues in Westchester County.
Conley is a military veteran and former Biden administration official who served on the National Security Council and a federal cybersecurity agency.
The district was a battleground, and both parties spent heavily on a race that focused on issues including immigration and taxes.
Lawler’s defeat is another setback for Republicans, as Democrats are projected to take control of the House in January.
Conley is expected to take the seat in Congress next year.
Democrat Cait Conley defeated two-term Republican Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District, according to projections cited by CBS News and The Associated Press.
The Hudson Valley seat was a closely watched contest that both parties saw as important to control of the House.
Lawler called Conley to concede on Tuesday, while vote-counting continued longer than expected because of issues at polling precincts in Westchester County.
The candidates differed over immigration and sanctuary laws, among other issues.
Conley is a military veteran and former Biden administration official who served on the National Security Council and at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
- Who
- Democrat Cait Conley defeated Republican Rep. Mike Lawler.
- What
- Conley won New York’s 17th Congressional District, according to election projections.
- When
- The projections were reported on November 5, 2026. Lawler called Conley to concede on Tuesday.
- Where
- New York’s 17th Congressional District in the Hudson Valley, north of New York City.
- Why
- The sources describe a closely watched race that could affect control of the House. They do not state a single reason for Conley’s victory.
Mike Lawler
Cait Conley
Immigration and sanctuary laws
Mike Lawler
Lawler argued that sanctuary laws are dangerous and said Conley would do nothing to mitigate the effects of illegal immigration.
Cait Conley
Conley said she opposed illegal immigration and condemned Sheridan Gorman’s killing, but had not specifically criticized sanctuary laws.
Lawler called Conley to concede, while vote-counting continued.
The Associated Press projected that Conley had defeated Lawler.
- District
- New York’s 17th Congressional District
- Winner
- Cait Conley, Democrat
- Defeated incumbent
- Mike Lawler, Republican
- Concession
- Lawler called Conley to concede on Tuesday
- Vote-counting issue
- Polling precincts in Westchester County
- Conley’s federal service
- National Security Council and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
2 sources
What people are saying
I have never been afforded in any of my elections a concession on election night and I fundamentally believe it's the right thing to do
And so I congratulate Cait on her win and wish her well as our next member of Congress.