NY Democrat House hopeful Cait Conley changes tune on tariffs after bashing opponent Mike Lawler

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Key points

• POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Battleground Democratic candidate Cait Conley seemingly took an abrupt U-turn Wednesday on tariffs – after repeatedly bashing her Republican opponent Rep.
• The back-and-forth underscored the high stakes in the 17th Congressional District fight between Conley and Lawler.
• Conley's comments on tariffs unfolded just hours after Trump delayed planned 50% tariffs on most imports from Canada for three days.
• Lawler, a moderate Republican who has cozied up to Trump, leapt on Conley's apparent flip-flop.
• Lawler took the seat in 2022 when he defeated former Rep.

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Battleground Democratic candidate Cait Conley seemingly took an abrupt U-turn Wednesday on tariffs – after repeatedly bashing her Republican opponent Rep. Mike Lawler over the matter.

For context, the pair bitterly battling for the critical Hudson Valley congressional seat faced off in a candidate forum in Poughkeepsie, where Conley obtained zapped during a lightning round of "yes" or "no" questions.

Conley – who has lambasted President Trump's seemingly endless tariffs on imports as "reckless" – admitted that some fees justified for "national security" are reasonable.

"Yes, in principle, " she informed the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce forum.

"After a whole year and a half of bashing tariffs, she remarked she supports them. I mean, frankly that's fascinating, " Lawler remarked to journalists after the forum.

"If that's her position, then I'm not really sure what the hell she's been attacking me on, " he continued.

For context, the back-and-forth underscored the high stakes in the 17th Congressional District fight between Conley and Lawler.

Notably, the contest is New York's sole tossup race during the midterm elections.

Notably, a win by Conley would not only support Democrats pick up an Empire State congressional seat, but could be critical as the party nationally hopes to wrest the House of Representatives from GOP control.

Lawler took the seat in 2022 when he defeated former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, then the chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee.

He coasted to reelection in 2024 and styles himself as an even-keeled, common sense Republican who's palatable to swing voters in a suburban district that includes all or parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

But Democrats have railed against Lawler's closeness to Trump. This person endorsed the congressman last year.

Conley, a former intelligence and national security official during former President Joe Biden's administration, emerged victorious from a crowded Democratic primary race in which she bested a fellow moderate and a more progressive contender.

As Conley built up steam during the campaign, she echoed the sentiments of plenty of Democrats by broadly trashing Trump's tariffs as "illegal."

"We must stop the bleeding this administration has caused by ending illegal tariffs that are driving up the cost of everything from prescription drugs to housing, " Conley wrote in a June post.

After the forum flip-flop, Conley remarked to journalists that tariffs should be employed as a "scalpel" instead of the "bulldozer" strategy the Trump administration is imposing. Start your day with all you need to know. Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

"Tariffs are intended to support foster business development and innovation and cultivate that domestic boom. They have to be accompanied with investment in smart policies to drive that. That is not what's happening right now, " she remarked.

But asked for examples of a good tariff, Conley only vaguely pointed to those "around national security" and "alternative energy investment."

In practice, the president, in a Truth Social post, asserted the US and Canada were close to a "DEAL." He additionally teased that the accord could resurrect the Keystone XL Pipeline, a megaproject that both Biden and former President Barack Obama worked to scuttle.

In practice, the tariff would have hit wine, hockey sticks, cement, among other Canadian products.

For now, NY Democrat House hopeful Cait Conley changes tune on tariffs after bashing remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.