Congressman Mike Lawler (R,C- Hudson Valley) gave a fiery address at the New York State Conservative Party Annual Conference taking aim at Governor Kathy Hochul and relishing in President Donald Trump’s winning the White House.
Lawler is considered to be one of the top "frontrunners" to be the Republican opponent to Gov. Kathy Hochul in the next gubernatorial election in 2026 and makes no bones about his views on what he calls the "failed and feckless" leadership of Hochul.
Lawler said he was “energized to be around so many conservatives, to talk about the issues facing our nation and state.”
“I don't think I've spent more than five minutes with a liberal in a month. It's like a political lent for conservatives, said Lawler.”
“I had the honor to speak with President Trump, both in the Oval Office and at Mar-a-Lago recently, about providing real tax relief for New Yorkers by lifting the cap on salt and repealing Kathy Hochul's congestion pricing scale.”
Lawler summarized the quick actions of the Trump administration these last weeks, as well as the optimism, and excitement, felt by many Americans by saying:
“President Trump has hit the ground running with the most aggressive first few weeks of any presidency in modern history.”
“President Trump is Making America Safe Again by taking bold action to secure our border and once and for all, cracking down on sanctuary states like New York.”
“President Trump is Making America Affordable Again by working with Congress to extend and run the Trump tax cuts and pledging his support to our efforts to lift the cap on SALT.”
“And, President Trump is putting American Values First Again by ending the weaponization of government against political rivals and undoing the un-American DEI policies that have infected federal agencies and federal workforce and our schools.
“President Trump is Making America Energy Dominant Again by bolstering domestic energy production and getting rid of absurd vehicle and home appliance mandates and restoring consumer choice.”
Lawler spoke about Trump’s efforts to reign in the size and cost of government by empowering those who identify waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiencies and by requiring every federal worker to return to the office five days a week.
The reaction to all of this by the Democrats was described as “predictable”.
“The late great William F. Buckley Jr. said it best when he noted, quote, liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are actually other views, said Lawler.
In a closely divided Congress, Lawler is very aware that “finding common ground on common-sense solutions with Democrats who are willing to put what's best for America ahead of their party” is crucial.
As full of praise as he is for Trump’s policies, Lawler was unabashed on his views of Gov. Hochul.
“I'm going to be clear, Kathy Hochul is a feckless and failed governor who must be defeated in 2026,” said Lawler.
“I am not sure that the New York State we love, which is already teetering on the brink, can survive another four years of the highest taxes and the highest cost of living in the country, which is why we continue to lead the nation in out-migration.”
“New York cannot afford another four years of sanctuary state policies that have put the interest of criminal, illegal immigrants, ahead of hard-working law-abiding citizens. Dangerous cashless bail laws that coddle criminals, disrespect police, and put our communities at risk have to go.”
Lawler was clear in his closing remarks that New York cannot prosper if a bloated patriarchal government continues operating as though it knows best how you and your family should live your lives and spend your money.