Ex-Biden official projected to win bid to unseat Mike Lawler in high-stakes House race

Cait Conley, a former Biden administration aide, is projected to defeat Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District, a race seen as crucial for House majority control. The campaign was marked by sharp disagreements on immigration and sanctuary city laws, with Lawler’s side highlighting the killing of a local student by an undocumented immigrant. Conley, while condemning the killing and opposing illegal immigration, has not directly opposed sanctuary laws.

• Cait Conley, a former Biden administration aide and military veteran, is projected to win New York’s 17th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler.
• The race was highly contested and heavily funded by both parties, considered key to gaining the House majority.
• Key issues included immigration enforcement and sanctuary city laws, with Lawler using the killing of Sheridan Gorman, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant, to criticize Conley.
• Conley, while opposing illegal immigration, has not explicitly spoken against sanctuary laws.
• The district was rated ‘lean Democrat’ by Fox News Power Rankings and a ‘toss-up’ by the Cook Political Report.