WASHINGTON – Republican Congressman Mike Lawler’s campaign accused Democratic challenger Cait Conley of “playing chicken” over a series of proposed debates, alleging she has declined invitations to two nationally televised forums.
Team Lawler said Conley declined an Aug. 30 debate on CNN’s State of the Union with Dana Bash and a Sept. 6 debate on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker. Lawler’s campaign said he accepted both invitations. The campaign also said Lawler, who represents the 17th District, has accepted four televised debates and is calling on Conley to agree to dates for additional forums.
“Cait Conley hasn’t lived in the Hudson Valley; doesn’t pay taxes here; and doesn’t understand the issues here,” said Ciro Riccardi, a spokesman for the Lawler campaign. “The only reason a challenger would turn those opportunities down is because her D.C. handlers know that Cait is grossly unprepared to debate the issues that matter to Hudson Valley residents and would be exposed as such in front of a large audience.”
Riccardi said that Conley has previously criticized Lawler for what she characterized as a reluctance to debate. A spokesperson for the Conley campaign did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment for this story.
In June, Conley appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and challenged Lawler to debate. In April, she said during a primary forum at Manhattanville College that she would defeat Lawler in a debate.
The Lawler campaign said it first challenged Conley to six debates on June 23 and followed up with written and public requests in July.
The battle for the 17th is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional races in the country. The district includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, as well as parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties. Lawler was one of just three incumbent House Republicans, alongside Don Bacon and Brian Fitzpatrick, to win reelection in districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
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