Get you up to speed: GOP Rep. Mike Lawler defeated in New York battleground district
Cait Conley, a Democrat, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in a competitive congressional race in New York’s Hudson Valley region. Lawler conceded the election on Tuesday, although vote-counting continued due to issues at polling precincts in Westchester County.
Vote-counting in New York’s Hudson Valley was delayed due to issues at polling precincts in Westchester County. Cait Conley, who served in the National Security Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, moved to the 17th District months prior to her campaign announcement.
Democrat Cait Conley won a competitive race to represent New York’s Hudson Valley, marking a setback for Republicans as control shifts to Democrats in the House come January. Conley has signalled support for continued military aid to Israel, a stance that may resonate in her district despite differing views within her party.
What remains unclear — The final vote count in the Hudson Valley election has not been disclosed following issues at polling precincts in Westchester County.
Democrat Cait Conley defeats Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York
Washington — Democrat Cait Conley defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, winning a highly competitive seat in New York’s Hudson Valley region, WTX US News projected.
Lawler’s loss is another setback for Republicans. WTX US News has projected that Democrats will take control of the House in January with a wide majority.
Lawler called Conley to concede Tuesday, though vote-counting continued for longer than expected due to issues at polling precincts in Westchester County.
“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,” he said. “And so I congratulate Cait on her win and wish her well as our next member of Congress.”
Before redistricting shuffled the boundaries in several states for the 2026 election, Lawler was one of just three Republicans who won districts carried by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in 2024.
A West Point graduate, Conley served six tours overseas before joining the National Security Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during the Biden administration. Though she grew up in a neighboring area, she moved to the 17th District months before announcing her campaign.
In their Sept. 30 debate, Conley said she supports continued military aid to Israel and did not believe that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute a genocide — positions at odds with many in her party, but which could be crucial given the district’s demographics.
Lawler has held the lower Hudson Valley seat since 2023 after narrowly ousting Democratic incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney, who served as House Democrats’ campaign chief. In 2025, Lawler considered running for New York governor, but opted to run for a third term as Republicans sought to hang on to the crucial battleground seat.
Lawler has cast himself as a moderate who has been willing to buck his party, including on immigration protections for Haitians and on extending the now-expired enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits. Lawler also played a central role in securing a temporary increase to the cap on state and local tax deductions — a bipartisan issue on the East and West coasts — as part of President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In the recent debate, Lawler tried to appeal to voters on both sides, claiming that he ranks “among the most bipartisan and effective members of Congress.”
But Lawler has also embraced Mr. Trump, campaigning with him in May even as he risked alienating swing voters who are pessimistic about the president’s handling of the economy and Iran war.
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