Congressional candidate parachuted into Westchester last year; Lawler was born and raised in District 17 and raising his family here now
In the final weeks of the congressional race, more and more voters are questioning Cait Conley’s qualifications to represent District 17 in Congress because she only parachuted into Westchester last year and doesn’t even own a home or pay property taxes in the county.
Conley’s decision to move from Virginia to New Castle in 2025 for the sole reason to run for Congress is raising questions about the legitimacy of her interest in the District and has become a flash point in the race, which has attracted national attention. Conley’s newcomer status to the District provides a striking contrast with her opponent – two-time incumbent Mike Lawler, who grew up in the District and is raising a family here.
According to official records, Conley owns property in Virginia and North Carolina and does not pay property taxes in NY-17, which indicates she is currently renting in New Castle.
“Cait doesn’t own a home here, and she’s never paid taxes here. But you know where she does? Virginia,” said Lawler. “Think about it. Cait doesn’t pay taxes here, but wants to raise ours even higher. Is she serious?”
Voters are being asked to examine Conley and Lawler’s opposing views on a wide range of issues, but the residency comparison cannot be debated.
Conley is an outsider who moved to District 17 last year.
Lawler was born and raised in Rockland County, which represents about 50 percent of District 17, and has served in the U.S. Congress since 2021. He lives in Pearl River with his wife, Doina, and their daughters, Julianna and Elizabeth. In
the 118th Congress, Lawler introduced 58 bills, seven of which passed the House, and one became law. Additionally, five of his bills were incorporated into broader legislative packages that were signed into law. In addition, his district office has successfully closed 10,000 constituent cases and has secured critical assistance and resources for families across the Hudson Valley.
Ironically, the new tax law that Lawler helped negotiate underscores the controversy surrounding Conley’s residency.
The tax law raised the SALT cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for filers
making under $500,000, and the Tax Foundation estimates it cuts 2026 taxes for the average New York filer by $4,079. At the Spring Valley NAACP forum on Oct. 7, Conley said “The best thing that Congress could have done for New Yorkers was absolutely nothing.” Conley’s plan would have resulted in a tax increase of over $4,000 for Hudson Valley families.
“Cait Conley pays property taxes in Fairfax County, Virginia, and not a dime of them here,” said Ciro Riccardi, Lawler’s campaign manager. “Mike pays a mortgage and a property tax bill in Pearl River like everybody else, and he stood up to his own party to get families here the largest tax cut in American history while delivering on his promise to lift the cap on SALT.”