NY-17: Lawler (R) works to sow chaos in Democratic primary for his battleground House seat [View all]
NEW YORK — Republican Rep. Mike Lawler has spent months trying to shape the Democratic primary in his closely watched battleground district. Whether he will succeed — and whether trying to handpick his opponent is a good idea — remains to be seen.
Lawler, who also serves as chair of the Rockland County GOP, has deep experience in political strategy and government. A former campaign manager, executive director of the state party and lobbyist, Lawler has used his deftness in the industry of politics to try and sow chaos in the primary.
He sent out a covert text message blast in April to local Democrats that attacked one of the two frontrunners, Army vet Cait Conley, as a “DC-connected insider.” The sender of the message — “Mike Lawler” — was only revealed when recipients replied “HELP.”
He also sued Effie Phillips-Staley, a left-leaning, longshot primary candidate in a bid to knock her off the ballot. Lawler’s legal challenge ultimately failed, but she was forced to sink campaign dollars into fighting the effort. The lawsuit even earned the attention of President Donald Trump on Truth Social, who endorsed Lawler while slamming Phillips-Staley.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/22/lawler-works-to-sow-chaos-in-democratic-primary-for-his-battleground-house-seat-00969782?utm_medium=bluesky&utm_source=dlvr.it
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