New York Rep. Mike Lawler’s Political Alliances Stir Controversy
New York Representative Mike Lawler, a self-proclaimed moderate, is drawing attention for his political alliances with prominent figures from the far-right MAGA movement.
Lawler, who serves New York’s 17th District, secured his position by a narrow margin of fewer than 16,500 votes in the last election, a district where President Donald Trump was not victorious. The district encompasses parts of the Hudson Valley.
On October 23, Lawler hosted a fundraiser in Monsey, New York, with the presence of Texas Senator Ted Cruz. According to GovTrack, Cruz ranks as the third most conservative senator in Washington. The Houston Chronicle highlights Cruz’s leading role in efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
Footage from Monsey Scoop depicts Lawler and Cruz greeting attendees at the event, where ticket prices ranged from $250 to $7,000.
Less than a month later, Lawler organized another fundraiser at the Putnam County Golf Course, featuring Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, the deputy chair of the House Freedom Caucus, known for its far-right stance.
In 2023, the Freedom Caucus advocated for a budget proposal that included significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Although the budget was not passed, similar ideas were incorporated into Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), which Lawler supported.
Lawler’s support extends to other far-right candidates in their electoral pursuits.
Last month, Lawler participated in a rally supporting New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli’s campaign endorsed the OBBB, aligned with anti-vaccine advocates, and disseminated misinformation about immigrants and transgender athletes. He also associated with far-right conspiracist Jack Posobiec.
Ciattarelli was defeated in the November 4 election by Democrat Mikie Sherrill.
Recently, Lawler endorsed Representative Elise Stefanik in her campaign for New York governor. Although Lawler previously considered running for governor himself and once suggested that Stefanik was too extreme to succeed, he now supports her. Stefanik has advocated for a nationwide abortion ban, the repeal of Obamacare, and the pardoning of individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Stefanik’s gubernatorial campaign has received an endorsement from Trump.
“Mike Lawler will toss New Yorkers aside in a heartbeat if it keeps him in Donald Trump’s good graces,” stated Riya Vashi, a spokesperson for the DCCC. “From enabling Trump’s extreme agenda to backing his dangerous ‘Ultra MAGA’ ally in New York for Governor, Mike Lawler keeps reminding Hudson Valley voters exactly who he works for — and it’s certainly not them.”
Several Democratic candidates have announced their campaigns to challenge Lawler in the upcoming election.
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