Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and Assemblyman Mike Lawler participated in their only scheduled debate in the race for Congress in the 17th District of NY, which includes mid-northern Westchester County, Rockland County, Putnam County and part of Dutchess County.
The League of Women Voters of Westchester hosted the virtual debate, held on Oct. 12. Both Maloney and Lawler exchanged barbs and criticisms, with both sides claiming victory.
“Mike Lawler won a major victory in tonight’s debate over Sean Maloney. Mr. Lawler was outstanding despite Mr. Maloney’s constant yet unsuccessful attempts to spread mistruths about Mr. Lawler’s record. Assemblyman Lawler was poised, informative, and passionate about the issues important to Hudson Valley voters — crime, cost of living, record-high taxes — while Mr. Maloney constantly stumbled over the facts. This is a super-tight race heading into Election Day, but this debate was anything but. Mike Lawler dominated tonight, as any objective viewer would agree,” said Bill O’Reilly, Spokesman, Mike Lawler for Congress.
Maloney and his supporters were also satisfied after the debate, and pointed to Maloney’s attacks on Lawler like, “MAGA Mike Lawler and his radical, anti-choice views would endanger the lives and rights of women here in the Hudson Valley and all across America. I will never stop fighting to protect our rights as Americans from anti-choice extremists like Mike Lawler.”
