Democratic candidate for Congress Cait Conley clashed with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) during a Wednesday night debate where she told him not to “mansplain” topics like sexual violence or domestic abuse to her.

The politicians took personal digs at each other when asked if the high-profile alleged gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity demonstrated a need for federal laws defining sexual consent.

Conley used the question to call out Lawler as a weak ally for women and victims, claiming he had not only failed to denounce embattled Ohio Rep. Max Miller (R) over allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife Emily Moreno but had actually blamed Moreno for the abuse.

Lawler denied Conley’s accusation, calling Miller and Moreno’s contentious divorce a “tragic” situation he believes family court should handle.

He then pointed the finger back at Conley for her links to disgraced Democrat Eliot Spitzer, who resigned as New York governor in 2008 after being caught in a prostitution scandal.

Cait Conley hammers Mike Lawler: "I do not need you to mansplain. Don't start. Sit over there ... I do not need this guy to tell me how a woman should respond to sexual violence or domestic abuse. You still haven't condemned the behavior of Max Miller, your buddy. I don't think… pic.twitter.com/ARNf8kXIJ3

“You took money from Eliot Spitzer, who trafficked young women across state lines for the purpose of sexually abusing them, and you refuse to return those funds. You refuse to denounce him in any way,” Lawler alleged, referring to a fundraiser Spitzer hosted for her in October 2025.

“I do not need you to mansplain to me what domestic abuse and sexual assault against women is,” Conley shot back. “Don’t start. Sit over there.”

The heated back-and-forth continued as Lawler called Conley’s connection to Spitzer “disgraceful” while she called his ties to “buddy” Miller disqualifying.

“I don’t think those types of folks belong in Congress, and I don’t believe that people who condone that type of behavior belong in Congress either,” Conley declared.

Lawler and Conley’s race to represent New York’s 17th district is coming down to the wire. A poll from Emerson College and PIX11 released at the beginning of this month showed Conley with support from about 48% of likely voters while Lawler landed at 46%. The remaining 6% of voters said they were still undecided.

Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.