Cait Conley won. Get what Cait Conley says in office by email, analyzed for rhetorical techniques, once sworn in. And an email if the result changes: a recount or a call reversed. One-click unsubscribe.
Confirming also makes your free Semblen account, with a 14-day Pro trial. No card.
129 ads analyzed · 46 use a rhetorical technique, most often name calling and glittering generalities.
The words doing the persuading
From the Conley side · Paid for by Cait for New York“…to this country, not any person or political party. I'm running for Congress because what we're seeing from politicians these days isn't courage, it's corruption. I'm fighting for the rest of us paying the price.”Name CallingSee this ad →
From the Lawler side · Paid for by CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND“…$75,000. Just like AOC.
Conley even supports radical government-backed healthcare. Just like Mamdani.”Name CallingSee this ad →
Cait Conley (Democrat) and Mike Lawler (Republican) are the nominees for New York's 17th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Mike Lawler is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Cait Conley's campaign had raised $10.7 million (through October 14, 2026) and Mike Lawler's campaign $10.3 million (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $5.0 million for Cait Conley and $8.3 million against; $4.4 million for Mike Lawler and $4.9 million against. Semblen has analyzed 129 ads in this race; 46 used at least one rhetorical technique, most often name calling and glittering generalities.
Cait Conley (DEM), Mike Lawler (REP, incumbent).
7 others filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 129 ads analyzed, 46 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-11-07.
Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Sat, Oct 24 (Received by county board, 10 days before; in-person application until Nov 2.); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 10; or delivered to county board by 9 p.m. Nov 3.) (passed)Source: elections.ny.gov ↗
Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us
A person reads every report and fixes errors the same day.
Where they stand
From each campaign's own website, summarised in plain English, with a quote where they gave one; under an issue, Senate votes for those who have cast them. Full detail and sources on each profile: Cait Conley · Mike Lawler.
Economy and cost of livingConley: stated · Lawler: stated
Cait Conley (DEM)
Conley says she wants to lower living costs and help working families by ending the SALT tax cap, passing the PRO Act, funding trade skills and job retraining, and cutting red tape for small businesses. She also says she would lower housing costs through a home loan program for teachers, nurses and first responders, and by making it easier to build affordable housing.
Lawler says he wants to lower the cost of living through tax cuts, lower energy and health care costs, and more housing. He says he introduced and helped pass bills to increase housing supply and reduce costs for families.
Taxes and government spendingConley: stated · Lawler: stated
Cait Conley (DEM)
Conley says she would end the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions entirely. She also says she would expand tax credits for childcare and for builders of mixed-income housing.
“Ending entirely the Trump and Lawler-imposed SALT tax cap”
Lawler says he voted for tax cuts including no tax on tips and overtime, a larger Child Tax Credit, and raising the SALT deduction cap to $40,000. He also says he voted to cap federal spending growth at 1% a year and to cut waste, fraud and abuse.
“Taking on his own party to quadruple the SALT deduction cap to $40,000”
Conley says she wants everyone to be able to opt in to a public insurance option, and she would defend the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. She would also cap insulin at $35, let Medicare negotiate more drug prices, and add vision, dental and hearing coverage to Medicare.
Lawler says he forced a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and secured federal funding for hospitals serving Medicare, Medicaid and uninsured patients. He has introduced bills for an IVF tax credit, veterans' health travel costs, emergency room capacity, and more doctors in underserved areas.
Lawler says he wants to protect Social Security and Medicare and strengthen Medicaid. He says he championed the Social Security Fairness Act, ended income tax on Social Security benefits for 88% of seniors, and backed Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults without children.
Immigration and the borderConley: stated · Lawler: stated
Cait Conley (DEM)
Conley says she wants to secure the border, create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and Dreamers, and focus enforcement on violent criminals and human traffickers. She says she would require body cameras and visible ID for ICE agents, ban masked agents, and revoke 287(g) agreements with local police.
Lawler says he supports secure borders and opposes sanctuary policies for criminal migrants. He also cosponsored the bipartisan Dignity Act and wants legal immigration reform so law-abiding, hard-working people have legal pathways.
Conley says she would pass Roe v. Wade into law, including access to abortion, contraception and IVF. She also says she would restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood by repealing the cut to its Medicaid reimbursements.
Lawler says he opposes a federal abortion ban and would not force a rape victim or a woman with a serious health issue to continue a pregnancy. He opposes late-term and sex-selection abortions, supports parental notification for minors, and backs IVF access, birth control and mifepristone access.
“Opposes a federal ban on abortion, and would never force a rape victim or woman facing a serious health issue to continue a pregnancy against their will”
Conley says she would expand federal investment in solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy, cut red tape for renewable projects, and rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. She opposes reopening Indian Point and says she would take on utility companies to lower electric bills.
Lawler says he supports an all-of-the-above energy approach including natural gas, nuclear and renewables, and wants to reopen Indian Point nuclear plant. He wants New York's climate law repealed or overhauled, opposes all-electric building mandates, and supports faster permitting for pipelines and power lines.
Conley, a gun owner who says she respects the Second Amendment, says she supports universal background checks and closing the loophole for unlicensed dealers. She also supports federal grants to help states adopt red flag laws.
Lawler says he supports gun rights for law-abiding Americans along with some gun restrictions. He supports red flag laws with due process, barring gun purchases by people with outstanding warrants, and cosponsored a background checks bill, and he led renewal of the Undetectable Firearms Act.
Conley says she wants immigration enforcement focused on dangerous criminals and human traffickers. She would end 287(g) agreements so local police can focus on protecting their own communities.
Lawler says he supports law enforcement and opposes defunding the police. He wants to repeal New York's cashless bail laws in favor of a dangerousness standard and says he has secured federal funding for local police and first responders.
Conley says she would fund universal pre-K, childcare subsidies and Head Start, and expand career and technical education, BOCES and community college programs. She would cap interest rates on federal student loans and oppose voucher programs.
Lawler says he cosponsored the Educational Choice for Children Act so parents can choose public, private, charter, homeschool or religious options. He also introduced bills to cap federal student loan interest at 2% and raise graduate loan limits for fields like nursing and teaching.
Foreign policy and defenseConley: stated · Lawler: stated
Cait Conley (DEM)
Conley says she would end military escalation with Iran in favor of diplomacy, restore USAID funding, and require Congressional oversight of military actions. She also says she supports a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians and continued support for Ukraine.
Lawler says he supports peace through strength and standing with democratic allies. He backs Ukraine's defense, votes for the defense authorization bill, and chairs the House Middle East subcommittee, where he pushes support for Israel and Iran sanctions.
Elections and ethics in governmentConley: stated · Lawler: stated
Cait Conley (DEM)
Conley says she would ban members of Congress from trading stocks, pass term limits, overturn Citizens United, and bar former elected officials from becoming lobbyists. She also says she would restore CISA's election security mission, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and protect election officials.
Lawler says he supported investigations into alleged financial wrongdoing, including the use of shell companies to hide payments, and supported whistleblower investigations.
Something wrong or missing? Each profile has an Accurate? button under every issue; a person reads every note.
Got a political text?
Paste a campaign text message you’ve received. Semblen marks the persuasion techniques in its wording and lists the factual claims it makes. Take your name out first: what you paste is analyzed and kept like any text.
Findings
As of 2026-11-07. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
Ads analyzed
129 · started running between 2026-06-18 and 2026-11-06
A small box with these findings and the newest ads, updated as new ads are analyzed. Free for newsrooms, blogs and campaigns alike; it links back here.
Follow Cait Conley in office
Cait Conley won. Get what Cait Conley says in office by email, analyzed for rhetorical techniques, once sworn in. And an email if the result changes: a recount or a call reversed. One-click unsubscribe.
Confirming also makes your free Semblen account, with a 14-day Pro trial. No card.
Each side is the campaign plus the groups backing it. How a group is placed is explained below the table.
Side
Ads
With at least one technique
Most common
Conley (D)
39
13 of 39 (33%)
Glittering Generalities (6), Name Calling (6), Loaded Language (5)
Conley's campaign
15
8 of 15 (53%)
Glittering Generalities (4), Loaded Language (3), Name Calling (3)
7 groups backing Conley
24
5 of 24 (21%)
Name Calling (3), Glittering Generalities (2), Loaded Language (2)
Lawler (R)
70
28 of 70 (40%)
Name Calling (18), Appeal to Fear (11), Glittering Generalities (9)
Lawler's campaign
45
8 of 45 (18%)
Glittering Generalities (4), Name Calling (3), Bandwagon Appeal (2)
4 groups backing Lawler
25
20 of 25 (80%)
Name Calling (15), Appeal to Fear (10), Loaded Language (6)
Not placed on a side (11 sponsors)
20
5 of 20 (25%)
Glittering Generalities (2), Loaded Language (2), Appeal to Fear (1)
Read this before comparing the sides. Ads that attack an opponent use these techniques far more often than ads that introduce a candidate, whoever runs them, so the side running more attack ads shows a higher share. A technique is about wording, not about whether an ad is true. These are online ads only (Meta and YouTube), not television.
How a group is placed: by its own filings with the Federal Election Commission. A group is with a candidate when it reported spending to support that candidate, or to oppose the other one in the general election. The parties' own committees are with their nominee. Spending against a candidate in a primary places a group nowhere, and neither does our reading of its ads: a group with no such filing is listed as not placed. The sponsor table gives the reason for each.
Decide what counts
Not everyone would call every technique a problem. Untick the ones you'd call ordinary persuasion and the count updates.
36% of the 129 ads here use at least one of the techniques ticked below (46 ads).
Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 27% of ads.
The words doing the work
The words that show up most in phrases our model flagged as loaded language or name calling in this race's ads, by number of ads.
socialistin 7 ads· e.g. “the socialists”, “her socialist allies”
AOCin 4 ads· e.g. “join with AOC”, “A vote for AOC”
socialismin 4 ads· e.g. “stop Cait Conley and socialism”, “socialism”
Semblen is free to read and has no ads. If this page was useful, you can support it.
Money in this race
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
$10.7M through 2026-10-14individuals $9.4M · PACs $523K · party $11K · candidate's own money, incl. loans $7,000 · from the candidate's other committees $764K · cash on hand $949K
CLF— $3.1M opposing Conley
· 6 ads on this pageLargest donors:
AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK $64.3M (25%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Elon Musk $30.0M (12%), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CEO; Timothy Mellon $21.0M (8%), Self-Employed, Investments; Miriam Adelson $10.0M (4%), Adelson Drug Clinic, Physician; Paul E Singer $8.0M (3%), EMC, PresidentSAFETY & AFFORDABILITY PAC INC.— $2.9M opposing ConleyPROGRESSIVE CHAMPIONS PAC— $1.5M opposing ConleyLargest donors:
CONSERVATIVE AMERICANS PAC $1.6M (100%)VOTEVETS— $1.1M supporting ConleyLargest donors:
GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS PAC $6.9M (20%); GLOBAL IMPACT SOCIAL WELFARE FUND $3.0M (9%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); BETTER WORLD CIVIC TRUST $1.6M (5%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); DEMOCRACY MATTERS $1.4M (4%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Joshua Bekenstein $1.2M (3%), Bain Capital, InvestorBATTLEGROUND NEW YORK— $1.0M supporting ConleyLargest donors:
1199 SEIU NEW YORK STATE POLITICAL ACTION FUND $250K (46%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE & COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E $200K (37%)and 30 more
SAFETY & AFFORDABILITY PAC INC.— $2.9M supporting LawlerHMP— $2.3M opposing Lawler
· 1 ad on this pageLargest donors:
HOUSE MAJORITY FORWARD $93.7M (39%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Reid G Hoffman $8.5M (4%), Greylock Partners, Partner; ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FUND $5.0M (2%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Fred Eychaner $5.0M (2%), Retired; UNITED ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ISSUES FUND $4.8M (2%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)LCV VICTORY FUND— $1.1M opposing Lawler
· 1 ad on this pageLargest donors:
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, INC. $18.0M (81%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Amos Hostetter $600K (3%), Pilot House Associates LLC, Chairman; DEMOCRACY PAC $500K (2%); Giovanna Randall $375K (2%), Randall Apparel, Designer; Eric Laufer $375K (2%), Laufer Wind Group, Film ProducerEDF ACTION VOTES— $863K opposing LawlerLargest donors:
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND $10.7M (75%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Susan Z Mandel $2.5M (18%), NOT Employed, NOT Employed; Michael Bills $200K (1%), Bluestem Asset Management, Founder; Barbara Hostetter $100K (1%), Barr Foundation, Chair; Amos Hostetter $100K (1%), Pilot House Associates LLC, ChairmanCENTER FORWARD INITIATIVE INC (CFI)— $435K supporting Lawler
· 4 ads on this pageLargest donors:
CENTER FORWARD $925K (72%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ASA PAC) $225K (17%); POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS--PAC OF AAO $120K (9%)and 21 more
Paid for by American Civil Liberties Unionfrom 2026-11-06spend $100–1995,000–5,999 impressions
Rep. Mike Lawler lost reelection, but he can leave Congress on a high note by finally signing the discharge petition that will force the House to vote on the Dream and Promise Act.
We need just one more signature before November 12 to force a vote!
If enacted, the Dream and Promise Act will build a pathway to citizenship for millions of long-term residents who have built their families, careers, and lives in the U.S.
Forcing this vote now, in the current Congress, is vital to keep up momentum and set the expectation that the incoming Congress will fight to transform our immigration system.
Tell Rep. Lawler to do the right thing and sign the discharge petition.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUNDfrom 2026-10-26spend $1,000–1,49950,000–59,999 impressions
Why did Cait Conley join with AOC to support taxpayer funded sex change surgery for illegal immigrants?
Talk about wrong priorities.
You’re worried about prices, she’s worried about pronouns.
Loaded Language: Charged phrasing like 'sex change surgery' and 'illegal immigrants' paired with 'taxpayer funded' is chosen to provoke outrage rather than inform.
Name Calling: Guilt by association links the candidate to a polarizing figure (AOC) to discredit her rather than address her arguments. Flagged: “join with AOC”.
Cait Conley won. Get what Cait Conley says in office by email, analyzed for rhetorical techniques, once sworn in. And an email if the result changes: a recount or a call reversed. One-click unsubscribe.
Confirming also makes your free Semblen account, with a 14-day Pro trial. No card.
Paid for by Lawler for Congressfrom 2026-10-26spend $200–29915,000–19,999 impressions
Join Congressman Mike Lawler, Congressman Morgan Luttrell, State Senator Bill Weber, RNC Co-Chair KC Crosbie and more for the Salute to Service GOTV Rally in Clarkstown on Sunday, November 1 at 12:00 PM. RSVP today to save your spot.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Lawler for Congressfrom 2026-10-26spend $200–29915,000–19,999 impressions
Polls open Tuesday. The night before, join Congressman Mike Lawler, County Executive Kevin Byrne, Assemblyman Matt Slater, State Senate candidate Sergio Esposito and more for the Election Eve Rally in Carmel on Monday, November 2 at 6:30 PM. RSVP today and we'll send you the address.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Friends of Bob Axelrodfrom 2026-10-263 variantsspend $100–3976,200–8,997 impressions
Councilman Bob Axelrod: Trusted by leaders. The one clear choice.
Endorsed by:
✅ Congressman Mike Lawler
✅ Supervisor George Hoehmann
✅ CSEA New York
✅ Rockland County Police PBA
✅ Rockland Building & Construction Trades Council
Please cast your vote to re-elect Bob Axelrod for Clarkstown Town Council, Ward 4. 🇺🇸
Paid for by Vote to Survive, Inc.from 2026-10-26spend $200–29915,000–19,999 impressions
Voters in NY 17th congressional district: want to help end MAGA control of Congress, but not so sure about Cait Conley? Swap your vote with someone in MA-1 and help elect an Independent who actually has a chance of winning! https://votetosurvive.org/new-york-district-17/
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in NY; or it ran mostly in NY and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.