Republican Mike Lawler has launched a direct attack on his Democratic opponent, Cait Conley, in a striking TV advertisement. The ad criticizes her association with AI data centers, which are reportedly unpopular, while also highlighting her substantial income from consulting work with AI companies.
This advertisement comes as the race for New York’s 17th congressional district heats up. It opens with a somewhat ominous video of Conley, an Army veteran, stating, “We need data centers.”
The narrator then emphasizes, “Cait Conley has hundreds of thousands of reasons why she wants to build data centers in the Hudson Valley,” pointing out that she received a significant six-figure sum from AI firms when she was part of the Biden administration.
According to the ad, she earned $328,000 from AI companies Primer and Hidden Level, which have federal defense contracts, including during her tenure as a national security adviser to Biden.
In a clip featuring Conley, she reiterates her stance, saying, “We need data centers. We’re not going to get rid of them.”
Lawler also appears in the ad, speaking directly to viewers. “I’m Mike Lawler and I approve this message because I’ll protect our community for your family and mine,” he declares, with the ad concluding with a cheerful scene of him alongside his wife and daughters.
The nearly seven-figure advertisement, orchestrated by Lawler and the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, will be broadcast across various platforms including television, streaming services, and social media for nine days.
The 17th District encompasses parts of Rockland County and stretches into Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. It’s a pivotal area for Democrats aiming to regain influence in the House during the upcoming midterms, and the outcome here could potentially determine control of Congress moving into 2027.
Campaign analysts have classified this race as a toss-up, putting incumbent Lawler against Conley, who recently captured the Democratic nomination following a competitive primary.
Conley’s campaign responded to the ad by accusing Lawler of launching a misleading attack on her record. They pointed out that she backed an executive order from Governor Kathy Hochul for a one-year halt on new data centers in New York.
“Cait Conley supports a data center moratorium; Mike Lawler opposes one,” stated campaign spokesperson Maddy Rosen. She added that under Lawler’s tenure, several data centers have been constructed in Rockland County, straining local utility costs. Rosen reminded voters of Lawler’s past as a lobbyist for utility companies profiting from the centers.
Furthermore, the Conley campaign highlighted Lawler’s decisions — such as supporting $80 billion in tax incentives for the AI sector and easing regulations for data center construction. They also pointed out that he has received substantial donations from Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, both of which benefited from significant tax breaks.
Rosen emphasized, “Mike Lawler can lie all he wants to cover up his disastrous record, but at the end of the day, all you have to do is follow the money.”
This exchange underscores a growing tension surrounding AI data centers in this election cycle, with numerous candidates across party lines leaning into this issue to challenge their opponents. Polling indicates there is widespread opposition to placing AI data centers in local communities.
On the contrary, former President Trump has shown strong support for AI data centers as a means to maintain America’s technological leadership over competing nations like China.
So far, Lawler and the GOP have outpaced Conley and the Democrats in advertising expenditure, with a reported spend of $5.9 million compared to $3.4 million.
Lawler first won his seat in 2022 by defeating former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who led the House Democratic Campaign Committee. In 2024, he managed to fend off left-leaning Rep. Mondaire Jones in a close race, despite the district’s tilt toward Democrats in the presidential elections.
Cait Conley, having secured the Democratic nomination after emerging victorious in a five-way primary, has positioned herself as a moderate candidate well-suited for this suburban area.
The upcoming election is set for November 4, and it remains to be seen how these campaigns will unfold in the remaining weeks.
