The Democrat running against Republican Rep. Mike Lawler for a Hudson Valley House seat argues that the biggest threat to America is not foreign enemies but rather President Trump.
Cait Conley, an Army veteran and former national security adviser under the Biden administration, has stated in various speeches that the “greatest threat to America’s future is coming from within our own borders,” specifically naming Trump and his allies.
“I never thought I would feel that the greatest threat to our country and our future would come from within our border, and that is what we are seeing with this administration,” Conley remarked during a speech to the Rockland County NAACP on April 23.
In a July Zoom fundraiser, she emphasized, “I truly believe the greatest threat to America’s future is coming from within our own border right now. The corruption, the dysfunction, the fact that we have a president who seems more focused on chaos and corruption than on the well-being of our nation and its security.”
During a candidates’ night hosted by the AFL-CIO on September 28, Conley pointed out that she was responsible for overseeing election security in the 2024 campaign.
She mentioned, “The biggest threat we faced wasn’t our foreign adversaries. It was the fallout from the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen right here in our country,” referring to Trump’s claims after losing to Joe Biden.
On May 14, Conley stated, “I never thought I’d feel that the greatest threat to its future, to its values, would come from within its own borders. And that is what we are seeing play out with this administration, supported by a Congress that prioritizes political ambition over country and people.”
Lawler disputed her portrayal.
The Republican incumbent remarked, “Cait Conley led counterterrorism efforts on President Biden’s National Security Council but believes that the biggest threat to our country isn’t from groups like Al Qaeda or ISIS, or even Russia or China. Instead, she thinks it’s American citizens who don’t vote the way she prefers.”
“That’s outrageous and disqualifying, showing how she would be merely a hyper-partisan hack if elected to Congress,” he added.
In response to Lawler’s critique, Conley’s camp defended her remarks, describing his comments as a “new low.” Campaign spokesperson Maddy Rosen said, “Career political operative Mike Lawler takes every chance to misrepresent Cait Conley, but this is something else. Cait’s remarks addressed decisions made by the president and his administration that have undermined national security, like the reckless war with Iran that has already claimed 21 American lives.”
Rosen continued, “Having risked her life serving in the Army for 16 years under both parties, Cait is particularly qualified to question leaders who jeopardize our safety.”
“It’s absurd for Mike Lawler to question the patriotism of someone who has always put the country above party. The real partisan hack in this race is the one who votes with Donald Trump every time, even when it hurts his own constituents,” she added.
The race between Lawler and Conley in this competitive district is one of the most closely monitored across the nation.
This battleground district encompasses parts of Rockland, Putnam, Westchester, and Dutchess counties.
Lawler, previously a state assemblyman, is running for a third term.
This marks Conley’s initial attempt at politics after winning a five-way Democratic primary against Lawler.
Members of Congress earn $174,000 annually and serve two-year terms.
