Rep. Mike Lawler, the Republican incumbent, won the opening debate of New York's critical 17th Congressional District midterm race on News 12 — but Democratic challenger Cait Conley held her own.
In her first televised debate on Monday, Sept. 28, Conley stuck to a few talking points and didn’t show the nimbleness that a veteran campaigner like Lawler has developed over years in the arena.
News 12’s Tara Rosenblum did an admirable job keeping the action and answers moving - using questions submitted from voters around the district.
Conley’s favorite attack on Lawler has been her claim that he votes with President Donald Trump’s agenda 100% of the time. That may fire up faithful Democrats in 30-second TV spots, but the debate's format allowed Lawler to
counter Conley’s claim by ticking off votes and actions he has taken that put him at odds with the president and Republican Party leadership.
"If he cared so much about the health care of our families, of people in our district, then he would not have voted 100% of the time with Donald Trump's agenda," Conley said of Lawler at one point in the hour-long debate.
"No matter how many times you say '100% of the time,' it's probably false," Lawler replied.
Plenty of common ground
The charge that Lawler is in lockstep with Trump lost its impact as the debate unfolded and Conley had a hard time distinguishing herself from Lawler on several key policies.
When a college student asked about how the candidates would use the office to relieve Hudson Valley families of high college costs, Lawler said he proposed a 2% cap on college loans and more investment in vocational programs.
Conley agreed.
When asked if the U.S. should cut defense funding for Israel, Lawler said we should not until Israel is secure and can fund its own defense.
Conley agreed.
On the issue of Palestine’s right to exist, Lawler said if Hamas is completely disarmed, the Palestinian state should exist.
Conley agreed.
The two candidates also agreed that Israel’s actions in Gaza are not genocide, that congestion pricing should be eliminated and that ICE officers should wear body cameras and should not wear masks.
With so much in common, Conley’s “MAGA Mike” line of attack is going to be hard for her to hold until November.
Lower Hudson Valley voters focus on affordability
Rosenblum told viewers that by far the most common questions submitted by viewers leading up to the debate were on affordability.
This gave Lawler the chance to talk about his fight with Republican party leadership and Trump to increase the limit on SALT deductions from 10% to 40%. Lawler claims his success in that fight meant that 90% of homeowners in his district could write off their entire property tax bill this year.
Conley has attempted to make the case that the SALT deduction cap was set to expire, and Lawler is responsible for keeping it alive by quadrupling the limit.
In one of the highest taxed regions in the country, taxpayers know the difference when they save a few grand on taxes one year over the last.
Conley is unpolished but shows she's up for the fight
Lawler certainly carried this first contest but that’s no surprise. He’s a political veteran who has run winning campaigns and advised candidates in scores of others over the years.
Conley is a rookie campaigner who I’m sure would prefer the retail politics of meeting voters in small friendly groups.
Who wouldn’t?
When Lawler pressed her on several issues and talked over her answers on a few occasions, Conley did not wilt, she did not stumble. She stuck to her prepped lines and managed to do no harm answering some questions extemporaneously although she seldom offered a clear position in those answers.
I’m sure Conley will learn from this debate, and I hope that will show as the candidates clash again on WPIX on Oct. 14.
I think Conley will need more work than one debate to match Lawler’s skills, but two debates are what she agreed to.
I’m looking forward to lohud.com and The Journal News’ editorial board meeting with Conley. That will be a setting where she can explain her policy prescriptions with no one looking for gotcha moments and more than 60 seconds to answer.
Debates are judged by which candidate controlled the exchange, who landed the most memorable shots and who left undecided voters with the a clearer picture of their positions. Lawler won round one — soundly.
Matt Richter, a veteran Hudson Valley journalist, is local news and regional opinion manager for lohud.com and The Journal News.
Email: mrichter@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Conley came out swinging. But Lawler still won first debate | Opinion
