Dear Editor:
In the crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Mike Lawler, Cait Conley’s campaign has been working behind the scenes to cast one of her closest competitors, Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson, as a “far-left political operative” who could “make Democrats lose this seat,” according to a memo the campaign sent to The Judge Street Journal. The memo cites Davidson’s work with progressive groups like Emily’s List and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) as evidence.
“The main thing I want to highlight in the attached doc is that Beth’s clients have worked to defund the police, abolish ICE, supported allowing transgender individuals to play on the sports team with which they identify, and pass Medicare for All that would ban private health insurance and double taxes,” a Conley strategist wrote in an email titled, ‘No prints pitch — Beth Davidson’s 30-year far-left political operative career.’
Conley’s campaign sent the email to a Journal reporter before securing consent for attribution, which is typically required for such exchanges. When asked about the memo, the strategist claimed, “This pitch is from The Bench, not from the Conley campaign. This was part of a broader research document about the entire primary field, including Cait.”
The Bench is a Democratic group supporting young, outsider candidates. Digital records show the document was authored by Matt Poms, an employee of Spiros Consulting, which Conley paid $36,650 in November for research services, according to campaign finance filings.
Davidson’s work for Emily’s List is not in itself controversial, but the memo’s focus on it highlights the campaign’s strategy. Emily’s List is the nation’s largest pro-choice organization and has a record of endorsing both centrist and progressive Democrats.
“Let us get this straight… Cait Conley is attacking Beth Davidson for her work with Emily’s List — which works to elect women and protect abortion rights — and historic women senators like Angela Alsobrooks and Patty Murray? Interesting choice,” Davidson campaign manager Ellen McCormick told the Journal.
The memo frames Davidson’s nearly 30-year career as a potential vulnerability. “Beth Davidson would not be able to make this attack [against Lawler], and would not be able to present a clear contrast as above the political swamp,” it reads. Davidson’s past clients listed in the memo include Senate campaigns for Gary Peters, Angela Alsobrooks, and Patty Murray; consulting firms Dover Strategy Group, Avalon Consulting Group, Burdick Consulting Group, and Run the World; as well as Emily’s List and the New York State Nurses Association.
The memo also repeatedly flags Davidson’s work on issues like transgender youth participation in sports and Medicare for All, portraying them as potential political liabilities.
Conley did not comment directly on transgender youth sports. However, the memo notes that Maryland Senator Alsobrooks “stripped Prince George’s County police of resources and ‘realigned’ funding for other purposes” and supported sanctuary cities and the Green New Deal. It also calls attention to Davidson’s work with NYSNA, which endorsed candidates such as Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
While Emily’s List has not yet endorsed a candidate in this cycle, the memo signals Conley’s caution about aligning too closely with progressive groups, even as she positions herself as a Democratic contender.
The strategy underscores the tension in the primary between appealing to Democratic voters while avoiding positions that could be painted as too radical by opponents.