New York Republican Mike Lawler faces re-election in a closely contested race, with Democrat Kamala Harris having previously won the district. Recently, outgoing Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden endorsed Lawler for his bipartisan work, praising him as "a true partner." Despite Lawler's alignment with Donald Trump and his past DWI arrest revealed this summer, he received significant support at the Republican Midterm Convention. The race is considered a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, with Lawler winning his last election with 52.1% of the vote in 2024.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rep. Jared Golden, a Democratic congressman from Maine set to retire, unexpectedly endorsed Republican Mike Lawler, a representative from New York's Hudson Valley, for re-election in an ultra-competitive race that could influence the balance of power in the House. Writing in his hometown paper The Journal News, Golden praised Lawler as a "true partner" who works across party lines on issues like protecting fishing jobs threatened by new regulations. This endorsement came despite criticism from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, who called Lawler a "partisan hack and Trump sycophant." The race is considered crucial as it falls in one of five GOP-held districts won by Democrats in the 2024 presidential election.
Written for “House Democrat Endorses Republican” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
- Sign up HERE for the DC Insider Newsletter- our guide to what's rocking Washington, rattling the White House and setting tongues wagging on the Hill
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
New York Republican Mike Lawler is in an uphill battle this fall to be re-elected in one of five GOP-held congressional districts that were won by Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024.
With just over a month to go before early voting kicks off in the Empire State, Lawler was blessed on Monday with a ringing endorsement from one outgoing Democratic colleague, Mainer Jared Golden.
asserted
Lawler → sign → colleague
Golden praised Lawler for his ability to work in a bipartisan nature in an op-ed written in Lawler's hometown paper The Journal News on Monday.
asserted
Golden → praise → Monday
'Mike Lawler has been a true partner to me and a friend to fishing families he will never represent,' Golden noted, adding, 'I strongly back him, and I hope voters send him back to work.
asserted
voters → represent → work
Wherever you live, find the members who pass laws with the other party, and keep them.'
Asked about the letter, one Democrat told The Washington Sun, 'I don't think Lawler's beatable,' and also noted that the money the party is spending on Cait Conley, Lawler's opponent, would be better spent in less expensive seats.
asserted
party → live → seats
Regardless of the battleground nature of his district, Lawler has embraced Donald Trump and was handsomely rewarded for his loyalty with a primetime main stage speaking spot at the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas earlier this month.
asserted
Lawler → embrace → Dallas
Trump campaigned in person with Lawler in May, when he praised his bipartisan efforts, while Lawler voiced pride in his working relationship with the President.
uncertain
Lawler → campaign → President
Earlier this summer, Lawler admitted to being arrested for a DWI over 12 years ago, as he came clean about the incident that had been kept under wraps for years, first to a group of high school students, and then in an interview with local New York news outlet News 12.
asserted
that → admit → outlet
Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, speaks on stage on the second day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 10, 2026 in Dallas, Texas
Maine Democrat Jared Golden, who is not seeking re-election, endorsed Lawler in an op-ed released Monday
Just last week, additional details were released about the incident which reveled how reckless Lawler's actions were at the time.
asserted
actions → speak → time
A police report of the incident, reviewed by the Daily Mail, noted that Lawler was 'speeding 74 in 55 mph zone, [was] following too closely, crossed hazard markings several times, [made an] unsafe lane change and lane change several without signals.'
asserted
change → review → signals
The report also notes that Lawler was recorded with a blood-alcohol content of .14, nearly double the state legal limit of .08.
asserted
Lawler → note → .08
Conley hasn't made the drunk driving arrest a major issue on the campaign trail.
asserted
arrest → make → trail
Per the Cook Political Report, Lawler's seat in the lower Hudson Valley of southern New York state is rated as a 'toss-up.'
asserted
seat → rat → up
He won his last race in 2024 with 52.1 percent of the vote.
asserted
He → win → vote
Golden is not the only Democrat to drop a bombshell cross-party endorsement in recent weeks.
asserted
Golden → drop → weeks
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania provided a surprise video address at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month.
asserted
Fetterman → provide → Dallas
As his fellow Pennsylvanian, Republican Dave McCormick took the stage, Fetterman heaped praise on his friend.
asserted
Fetterman → take → friend
'I have this opportunity to introduce this great American, a great senator, and yes, he's in a different party.
asserted
he → introduce → party
But I'm proud to count him as my great friend,' Fetterman declared.
asserted
Fetterman → count → friend
The Democrat then made a brief mention of President Donald Trump, pointing to the 'iconic US Steel Mill' that was behind him in the shot, adding that 'he will work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley.'
asserted
he → make → Valley
The Aporia
