Cait Conley
Democratic, Working Families
Former Army officer and former Director for Counterterrorism on the White House National Security Council
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U.S. House · Nov 3, 2026
U.S. House race in New York’s 17th district
Incumbent: Mike Lawler, running for re-election.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is seeking re-election; under New York's fusion voting, Lawler also appears on the Conservative line and Cait Conley on the Working Families line.
The 2 candidates
Mike Lawler
Republican, ConservativeIncumbentU.S. Representative for New York's 17th district since 2023
Where they stand
What each candidate says they support or would do, on the issues they campaign on. Summaries use the same neutral words for everyone and link to the candidate’s own words.
AI verified
Researched with AI and confirmed by a second, independent AI check. Our editors haven’t reviewed it yet. How we verify
Health care
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports a public health insurance option anyone can opt into, defending the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, expanding Medicare to cover vision, dental and hearing, a $35 cap on insulin for everyone, and letting Medicare negotiate lower prices on more prescription drugs.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Says he pressed his party's leaders to force a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. Introduced bills for an IVF tax credit, federal grants to expand emergency room capacity, and lowering the age for cost-free annual breast cancer screenings.
Abortion
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports writing Roe v. Wade into federal law, including access to abortion, contraception and IVF, and restoring federal Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood clinics.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Opposes a federal abortion ban and late-term abortions. Says he would never force a rape victim or a woman facing a serious health issue to continue a pregnancy, supports parental notification for minors, and supports access to IVF, birth control and mifepristone.
“Opposes a federal ban on abortion, and would never force a rape victim or woman facing a serious health issue to continue a pregnancy against their will”
Energy
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports expanding federal investment in solar, wind and geothermal energy and cutting red tape for renewable projects. Opposes reopening the Indian Point nuclear plant and supports pressing the administration to rejoin the Paris climate agreement.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Supports reopening the Indian Point nuclear plant, an all-of-the-above energy strategy including natural gas, nuclear and renewables, expanding natural gas infrastructure, and federal permitting reform. Calls for repealing or overhauling New York's climate law, the CLCPA.
Immigration
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras and visible ID and barring masked agents, revoking 287(g) agreements with local police, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and Dreamers already in the country, and focusing enforcement on dangerous criminals and human traffickers.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Supports secure borders and opposes sanctuary policies. Cosponsored the bipartisan Dignity Act immigration reform bill and supports expanding legal immigration tied to workforce needs, such as letting foreign graduates of U.S. medical schools stay and work.
Guns
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Says she is a gun owner who respects the Second Amendment. Supports universal background checks, closing the exemption for unlicensed sellers at gun shows, online and in private transfers, and federal grants to help states adopt red flag laws that respect due process.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Says he supports the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms. Supports red flag laws with full due process and barring gun purchases by anyone with an outstanding warrant; introduced a safe-storage incentive bill and cosponsored the Bipartisan Background Checks Act.
Housing
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports a home loan program with no down payment for teachers, nurses and first responders, cutting zoning rules and red tape that slow building, more federal block grants and tax credits for affordable housing, and cracking down on corporate landlords and hedge funds buying properties.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Introduced bills to encourage construction, reduce regulatory barriers and create a home loan program for public servants, and says six of his bills were included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that became law.
Taxes
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports ending the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction entirely.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Supports the 2025 tax law he voted for and calls the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, including raising the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000, a $2,200 child tax credit, and cutting taxes on Social Security income, tips and overtime.
Ethics
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
Supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks while in office and requiring them to divest, congressional term limits, overturning Citizens United, and banning elected officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave office.
“Banning members of Congress from trading stocks while in office, and requiring personal divestment from holdings.”
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
No published position found.
Crime & justice
Democratic, Working FamiliesCait Conley
No published position found.
Republican, ConservativeMike Lawler
Supports repealing New York's cashless bail laws and adding a dangerousness standard to bail and pretrial release decisions, and opposes the "defund the police" agenda. Says he secured federal funding for Hudson Valley law enforcement and first responders.
Who’s on the ballot: sources
- ListNew York State Board of Elections: Amended Certification for the November 3, 2026 General Election (Representative in Congress, District 17)(opens in a new tab)
- ListInternet Archive: Amended Certification for the November 3, 2026 General Election (archived copy, September 21, 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- ListCity & State New York: Cait Conley wins NY-17 primary to take on Lawler(opens in a new tab)
- ListWikipedia: 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in New York(opens in a new tab)