Nearly $3M raised by Lawler, Democrats

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler raised $1.5 million and the five Democrats pursuing his District 17 House seat brought in a combined $1.3 million during the first three months of this year, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The reports, which detail donations received through March 31 from individuals and political action committees (PACs), show Lawler beating his previous quarter as he seeks a third term in a district that includes Philipstown.

They also show Cait Conley, a West Point graduate from Orange County and former director of counterterrorism for the National Security Council, more than doubling the donations of Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator.

Individuals donated $563,000 to Lawler's campaign. In a statement, he said 9,054 contributions came from 4,314 individuals, "a testament to the deep grassroots energy driving the campaign." He also received $573,000 from other committees, including the Lawler Victory Fund. Lawler's campaign splits the fund's proceeds with his political action committee, MVL PAC, and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Another $365,000 came from special-interest PACs, including $7,500 from No Labels, a group of moderate Democrats, Republicans and independents who criticize "the extremes on the far left and right"; $5,000 each from the Allied Pilots Association, Ernst & Young and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America; and $2,500 each from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Loan Syndications & Trading Association and the National Cotton Council of the American Committee for the Advancement of Cotton.

Lawler spent nearly $792,000. His expenses ranged from $141,000 to the Campaign Engine Group for digital consulting, $43,000 to BrabenderCox for digital ads and $117,000 for wages, including $34,000 to his campaign manager, Ciro Riccardi, and $18,333 to the deputy campaign manager, Alexander Mathis.

While Lawler does not have to spend on a primary, five Democrats will face each other on June 23 for the party line in the November general election. Two months out from the primary, Conley widened her fundraising lead, bringing in $731,000 during the first quarter compared to $361,000 for Davidson.

Conley drew $666,000 in donations from individuals and $41,000 from PACs, including $10,000 from the JUNO Fund, which supports "dynamic candidates who do things differently" rather than the "aging leaders and old ideas" of the Democratic Party; and $5,000 each from Equality PAC (which supports LGBTQ+ candidates and "allies") and the New Democratic Coalition Action Fund.

Of Conley's $423,000 in spending, $163,700 went to SB Digital for advertising and fundraising services, $21,600 to her campaign manager, Emily Goldson, and $16,700 to Berger Hirschberg Strategies for campaign consulting.

"I'm deeply grateful for the incredible support behind this campaign," said Conley in announcing her fundraising totals. "From fundraising to volunteer power, we've built an incredible movement by people who believe in the possibility of a better America and the need for new leadership."

Davidson and Effie Phillips-Staley, a Tarrytown trustee, were the only other Democrats reaching six figures in donations during the quarter. All but $3,000 of Davidson's funds, including $2,500 from the Great Lakes PAC, came from individuals.

Some of Davidson's biggest disbursements were $79,000 to Blueprint Interactive for digital consulting and the purchase of contact lists from other campaigns, $44,100 to Impact Research for polling and $21,300 to her campaign manager, Ellen McCormick.

Phillips-Staley's contributions included $5,913 from a March 22 benefit concert in Sacramento, California, headlined by the band Cake. The show also raised funds for Mai Vang, who is running for a House seat there. One of her biggest expenses was $31,000 to Bartholomew Communications & Strategies to gather nominating petition signatures, so...