Democratic Candidate Cait Conley Addresses DSA Influence Amid Campaign

Democratic U.S. congressional candidate Cait Conley recently discussed her stance on the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Conley stated that she would not campaign alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. However, she did not directly answer whether Democrats should distance themselves from the DSA.

This issue has gained prominence in her attempt to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. CNN anchor Dana Bash questioned Conley about her willingness to campaign with Mamdani or Ocasio-Cortez, highlighting Lawler’s efforts to associate her with the socialist elements within the Democratic Party. Conley responded, “No, Dana, I‘m good up here making the case to the voters in the New York 17th Congressional District.”

Lawler’s campaign manager, Ciro Riccardi, criticized Conley’s appearance on Fox News Digital, arguing it demonstrates why she avoided debates with Congressman Lawler. Riccardi accused her of failing to distance herself from the DSA, which he claimed disqualifies her. He described her as extreme as her peers and noted her support for impeachment, stating, “Now everyone is seeing why Cait Conley has ducked and dodged debate challenges with Congressman Lawler. She’s incapable of answering direct questions without showing her true colors.”

Previously, Lawler challenged Conley to six debates following her Democratic primary victory. Meanwhile, Conley agreed to two debates hosted by local networks. CNN’s Bash further questioned Conley about Rep. Tom Suozzi’s, D-N.Y., calls for Democrats to confront the DSA’s influence. Conley did not directly indicate whether Democrats should oppose the organization, instead emphasizing political divisions within both major parties.

Conley articulated her vision, stating, “I look at what we’re trying to do, which is unite this country where we have seen partisanship to include partisanship within our own party — absolutely divide people to render government dysfunctional. What we have to focus on is how do we bring people together, and right now, what I see coming out of Washington is corruption on both sides, extremism on both sides that is fueling hate, fueling dysfunction.”

Suozzi has expressed a clearer position, informing Fox News Digital in August that Democrats should address the DSA’s policies firmly, stating, “I don’t ascribe to any of those ideas at all, and I think that there’s very little support for those ideas.”

The DSA’s agenda includes abolishing ICE, ending detentions and deportations, redirecting police funding towards abolishing the police and prison systems, implementing universal rent control, publicly owned social housing, and universal government-funded healthcare. Lawler’s campaign has previously criticized Conley in relation to her ties with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing after Ocasio-Cortez congratulated her Democratic primary win in June.

Riccardi, at the time, challenged Conley to make her stance clear regarding Ocasio-Cortez and candidates linked to the party’s left wing, asking, “Which is it, Cait: do you reject AOC and the candidates who want to abolish ICE, defund the police, and tear down our borders, or do you embrace them?”

Conley, a 16-year Army veteran who served under former President Joe Biden’s National Security Council, won a competitive Democratic primary in June. She is now contending against the two-term incumbent Lawler in a closely observed Hudson Valley race, which holds potential significance for determining House control.

Fox News Digital reached out to Conley for additional comments but did not receive an immediate reply.

CJ Womack, who joined Fox News Digital in 2026, serves as an associate editor focused on the intersection of journalism and politics. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Journalism from Long Beach State University, graduating in 2025.

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