GOP Rep. Lawler Meddles in NY-17 Democratic Primary
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler has spent months trying to shape the Democratic primary in New York’s 17th district—using covert messaging, a ballot-access lawsuit, and public attacks tied to a rival’s work for Primer AI—while circulating influence within Hasidic communities to back his preferred candidate. Democrats say the moves aim to sabotage Cait Conley and elevate a challenger, as a dark‑money ad effort and party figures weigh in ahead of a tight, high‑stakes race in a battleground district.