Rebecca Bennett and Cait Conley entered their televised debates as strikingly similar Democratic candidates facing Republican incumbents in competitive House districts. Both are combat veterans, belong to a group chat nicknamed “Hellcats,” and have emphasized affordability, immigration reform, and changing the worst provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Bennett is challenging Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s Seventh District, while Conley is running against Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th District. Both Democrats have presented themselves as moderate Blue Dogs prepared to deliver for American families.

During debates held Sunday and Monday night, Bennett and Conley also sought to capitalize on President Trump’s lowest approval rating on record. They criticized their Republican opponents for remaining aligned with the administration and its policy agenda.

The Cook Political Report had classified both contests as toss ups. Late last week, however, it moved the New Jersey race to “Lean Democratic,” and the debates offered a revealing look at why the two campaigns may be moving differently.

Kean spent much of Sunday’s debate on the defensive. Although he expressed a willingness to oppose Trump on certain issues, he struggled to defend casting the deciding vote for the Big Beautiful Bill after Bennett attacked the deeply unpopular budget reconciliation package.

The law, Bennett said, “is why tens of thousands of people in our district are losing access to their health insurance, and why all the rest of us are seeing our premiums go up.” Her criticism kept the conversation focused on health care and affordability, two of her preferred subjects.

The debate was Kean’s first extended public engagement since his monthslong leave from Congress. He was treated for depression between March and June, and did not disclose that he was receiving mental health treatment until after returning.

Moderators opened by questioning Kean about the limited information surrounding his absence. Kean responded that “we kept everybody updated” about his condition, while Bennett wished him a continued recovery before turning attention toward the broader failures of the health care system.

The debate between Conley and Lawler unfolded far differently. Conley criticized Lawler for voting for the “Big Ugly Bill” and argued that he has voted with Trump “100% of time,” but Lawler called that claim “demonstrably false.”

Lawler repeatedly highlighted his relationships with Democratic members of Congress, including Reps. Jared Golden and Josh Gottheimer. “My best friend in Congress is Josh Gottheimer,” Lawler said, while Golden has controversially endorsed Lawler in the race.

Lawler and Gottheimer were among the lawmakers who introduced the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act in October 2023. The measure overwhelmingly passed the House but stalled in the Senate, and Kean was also a cosponsor.

Even when Conley and Lawler agreed on issues such as aid to Israel and insider trading, Lawler managed to place Conley on the defensive. He baselessly accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism and demanded that Conley denounce him.

“I denounce antisemitism from anyone,” Conley said. She added that she had firm disagreements with members of the Democratic Socialists of America and would call out her own party when she believed it was wrong.

A contentious exchange over AI produced another difficult moment for Conley. Lawler pointed to her consulting work for AI companies, which are also contractors seeking assignments from the Trump administration, while Conley accused Lawler of allowing data center growth in the district.

Conley said five data centers had been built in the district on Lawler’s watch, with three more coming. She reiterated support for a moratorium and reminded viewers that Lawler is a former utility lobbyist.

“Mike Lawler is a party-first politician and lifelong political operative who has been bought and paid for by corporate interests, and the people of the Hudson Valley deserve better,” Conley said in her closing remarks. Lawler answered by portraying himself as a representative willing to disagree while delivering for the district.

As of September 30, Republicans held an approximately $1.2 million spending advantage in New York’s 17th District. They had also spent roughly $675,000 more than Democrats in New Jersey’s Seventh District, with 33 days remaining before the midterm elections.