{"id":2403978,"date":"2025-02-18T20:04:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T01:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawler-sees-first-major-democratic-challenge-to-house-seat-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T20:05:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T01:05:48","slug":"lawler-sees-first-major-democratic-challenge-to-house-seat-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawler-sees-first-major-democratic-challenge-to-house-seat-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawler sees first major Democratic challenge to House seat &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flawler-sees-first-major-democratic-challenge-to-house-seat-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2403978&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Mike Lawler \u200c(R-NY) is contemplating a run for new York governor, having recently secured reelection to his House seat in 2024. Meanwhile, Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson is challenging him for New York&#8217;s 17th Congressional District, \u2063which she aims to flip for the democrats.\u2064 Davidson,who has notable support from local Democratic leaders,announced her candidacy,emphasizing her record on bipartisan achievements and her focus on issues such \u200das affordability and public safety. The district is viewed as \u2064a competitive battleground, having narrowly flipped\u200b to Lawler in 2022 and again in 2024. Davidson has positioned herself as a\u2063 community-focused candidate, criticizing both Lawler&#8217;s previous actions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-interviews-top-3-vp-candidates-announcement-coming-in-next-24-hours-report\/\" title=\"Kamala Harris Interviews Top 3 VP Candidates, Announcement Coming in Next 24 Hours: ...ort\">broader political issues<\/a>, such as \u2064congestion pricing in New York City. As Lawler considers his gubernatorial aspirations, the dynamics of\u2063 the congressional race could change significantly.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Lawler sees first major Democratic challenge to House seat as he weighs governor bid<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1997460\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3316649\/mike-lawler-applauds-dhs-taking-action-against-fema-supporting-new-york-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Mike Lawler<\/a> (R-NY) has been flirting with a New York gubernatorial bid after winning reelection to his House seat in 2024. A new<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> Democratic<\/a> challenger is set to redirect his attention back home.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson is jumping into the race for New York&rsquo;s 17th Congressional District in the hope she can flip the competitive seat for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My name is Beth Davidson,&rdquo; she said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BethDavidson17\/status\/1891833774087737361\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">post<\/a> on X announcing her candidacy. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a County Legislator, former school board VP, and working mom with a proven record of delivering bipartisan wins for the Hudson Valley. Today, I&rsquo;m announcing that I&rsquo;m running to flip NY-17 blue.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Davidson <a href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/forms\/H6NY17163\/1876979\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">filed<\/a> to run against Lawler on Tuesday, becoming the second Democrat after nonprofit organization leader Jessica Reinmann to declare their candidacy. Davidson already appears to have wide support from Democrats in Rockland County, a part of the district that also features all of Putnam County and portions of Westchester and Dutchess counties.<\/p>\n<p>Davidson touted the support of &ldquo;over 30 Rockland County elected officials and Democratic party leaders,&rdquo; including New York Assemblyman Pat Carroll and several other county legislators.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) debates former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones during the 17th Congressional District election hosted by News 12, Oct. 16, 2024, in Yonkers, New York. (AP Photo\/Brittainy Newman, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She called the 17th District &ldquo;one of the most winnable districts in the entire country for Democrats in 2026&rdquo; in a fundraising message following the announcement. Lawler flipped the district away from then-Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney in 2022 by less than a percentage point before a decisive 6-point win over former Rep. Mondaire Jones in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Cook Political Report<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">rates the district<\/a> &ldquo;lean Republican&rdquo; for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Davidson ran and won a spot on the Rockland County legislature in 2023 and served as a Nyack School Board member before that. <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/new-york\/nyack\/patch-candidate-profile-davidson-rockland-county-legislature\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Just as she did during her 2023<\/a> run, Davidson is focusing on affordability as her key message to voters.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson is a community leader and bipartisan problem-solver who knows firsthand that business-as-usual politics in Washington and Albany have left us with higher taxes, higher costs, and anxiety about the Hudson Valley&rsquo;s future,&rdquo; her campaign website says. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She is running for Congress to put the 17th Congressional District first, by bringing down the cost of living, protecting the environment, and finding bipartisan solutions to keep our schools and neighborhoods safe,&rdquo; it adds.<\/p>\n<p>In an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/02\/18\/nyregion\/hudson-valley-beth-davidson-mike-lawler.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> interview with the <em>New York Times<\/em><\/a>  before her announcement, she took her first punches at Lawler, referencing Elon Musk&rsquo;s involvement in the government. &ldquo;Right now we are watching an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">unelected billionaire run roughshod<\/a> over the Constitution, raid our government and hurt federal workers,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I certainly don&rsquo;t see Mike Lawler standing up for us on any of these issues,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>She did join with Lawler in condemning New York City&rsquo;s congestion pricing plan, calling it an &ldquo;unfair tax&rdquo; on her community&rsquo;s commuters. She also backed efforts to &ldquo;secure the border, deport violent criminals and stop putting decades of failed policy on the backs of voters in the Hudson Valley.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Lawler&rsquo;s camp told the outlet that voters would be skeptical of Davidson. &ldquo;So, let me get this straight: Beth Davidson supports NY&rsquo;s sanctuary state policies, opposes cutting government waste, and can&rsquo;t summon the courage to criticize radicals in her party who called for &lsquo;defunding the police,&rsquo;&rdquo; Chris Russell, a spokesman for Lawler, said. &ldquo;In other words, she&rsquo;s Kathy Hochul 2.0 with a dash of A.O.C.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The New York Republican has yet to make his decision on whether he will run for governor in 2026, which could turn the House race upside down. He&rsquo;s been a frequent critic of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), recently blasting her for her &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawler.house.gov\/news\/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3740\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">gimmick<\/a>&rdquo; stance on Con Edison&rsquo;s recent rate hikes.<\/p>\n<p>He all but announced that he&rsquo;s interested in Hochul&rsquo;s office in a <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/12\/24\/us-news\/ny-rep-lawler-hints-he-may-run-for-gov-while-roasting-hochul-schumer-and-more-by-the-fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">December video<\/a>. &ldquo;No doubt she&rsquo;s going to face a real challenge in 2026. I wonder who could beat her. Hmm. I might know a guy,&rdquo; he said with a wink. &ldquo;Anyway, that&rsquo;s a video for another day.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1997460\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1997460\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawler faces a significant Democratic challenge as he considers a gubernatorial run<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2403979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Mike-Lawler.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36534,39387,38087,18002,32076],"class_list":["post-2403978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2023-elections","tag-democratic-challenge","tag-house-seat","tag-lawler","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Mike-Lawler.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403978"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2403982,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403978\/revisions\/2403982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2403979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}