Democrat challenging Mike Lawler won't commit on campaigning with AOC, Mamdani or rejecting DSA
Democratic U.S. congressional candidate Cait Conley told CNN's "State of the Union" that she would not campaign alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., but did not directly answer whether Democrats should reject the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The group's influence in New York has become an issue in her bid to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. Anchor Dana Bash asked Conley whether she would campaign alongside Mamdani or Ocasio-Cortez after noting Lawler has sought to link his opponent to the Democratic Party's socialist wing.
"No, Dana, I‘m good up here making the case to the voters in the New York 17th Congressional District," Conley said.
'DAMNING SILENCE': SWING-SEAT DEMOCRAT STAYS QUIET AFTER AOC VOICES SUPPORT
Lawler's campaign manager, Ciro Riccardi, told Fox News Digital on Sunday that Conley's appearance demonstrated why the campaign has criticized her over debates and accused her of failing to distance herself from the DSA.
"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," he said. "Cait Conley’s refusal to disavow Zohran Mamdani and the DSA is disqualifying. She is just as extreme as the rest and that was exposed today for all to see, including embracing impeachment."
Lawler previously told Fox News Digital that he challenged Conley to six debates after her Democratic primary victory, while Conley's campaign said she agreed to two debates hosted by local networks.
Bash separately pointed to Rep. Tom Suozzi’s, D-N.Y., calls for his party to confront the DSA and asked Conley whether she agreed. Conley did not directly state whether she believed Democrats should reject the organization, instead discussing political division within both parties.
"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," Conley said. "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 taken a more explicit position toward the socialist organization, telling Fox News Digital in August that Democrats would have to address the DSA's influence and reject its policy positions.
"I don't ascribe to any of those ideas at all, and I think that there's very little support for those ideas," Suozzi said.
SOCIALISM VS CAPITALISM: HOUSE DEMS CLASH OVER WHAT NY ELECTION RESULTS MEAN FOR PARTY
The DSA's national program calls for abolishing ICE and ending detention and deportations. It also advocates redirecting police funding as steps toward "fully abolishing the police and prison system," universal rent control, publicly owned social housing and universal government-funded healthcare.
Lawler’s campaign has previously pressed Conley over her relationship with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing after Ocasio-Cortez congratulated Conley on winning the Democratic primary in June. Riccardi at the time challenged Conley to state whether she rejected Ocasio-Cortez and other candidates associated with the party’s left flank.
"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?" Riccardi said.
Conley, a 16-year Army veteran who served on former President Joe Biden's National Security Council, won a crowded Democratic primary in June and is challenging two-term incumbent Lawler in a closely watched Hudson Valley contest that could determine control of the House.
Fox News Digital reached out to Conley for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.