With control of the House at stake, who will take on Lawler?

In nationally watched race, Dems’ focus down to five candidates

By JEFF MORRIS

A Democratic primary in the 17th Congressional District once had the appearance of a free-for-all, with some nine Democrats intending to challenge Rep. Mike Lawler for his seat, but is now down to mostly a fight between two candidates.

Early voting is under way and in-person ballots will be cast at polling places Tuesday. Registered Democrats can choose one of five candidates: Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson; Cait Conley, a West Point-educated Army veteran and former National Security Council official; Tarrytown Village Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley; former broadcast journalist Mike Sacks; and Air Force veteran John Cappello. 

With Democrats hoping to take back the majority in the House, the 17th, which includes parts of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties, has become one of the most hotly contested races in the country, and is already attracting huge amounts of money and attention. 

It is considered a key swing district, where Democrats outnumber Republicans, and where Kamala Harris received more votes than Donald Trump in 2024; but also where Lawler has already been elected twice.

In the month leading up to the primary, tensions have risen between the two candidates considered to be the frontrunners: Conley and Davidson. Their supporters, and the candidates themselves, have clashed, as Davidson began a series of attacks on Conley, claiming she worked for firms that supported ICE; Conley countered that her work was to protect Americans from terrorism and had no connection to ICE. Each asserted they would be the strongest candidate to take on Lawler. Davidson’s campaign contends she would have the advantage against Lawler in Rockland, his home county; Conley’s campaign says she has strengths as a West Point graduate and veteran who is above politics. Many Democratic voters have expressed frustration with the intra-party fighting, hoping to keep the focus on Lawler and his support for Trump.

A narrowing field

In November, Jessica Reinmann of Chappaqua, who was the first candidate to enter the race, announced she was ending her campaign and endorsed Conley. In April, Peter Chatzky of Briarcliff Manor, who had spent heavily on his candidacy early on, withdrew from the race shortly before a planned candidate forum. At the time, Chatzky was polling in third place, behind Davidson and Conley.

In the latest poll, released June 16 and conducted between June 12-16 by Tavern Research, Conley leads at 34%, Davidson is at 23%, and Phillips-Staley is at 13%. The margin of error is 5.0%. The poll noted that one week out from the primary, 28% of likely Democratic voters are still undecided. An earlier compilation by the New York Times showed that in a poll conducted by Global Strategy Group and sponsored by Vote Vets Action Fund, taken May 7-12, Conley led Davidson, 29% to 22%, while less than a month earlier, an April 17-24 poll taken by Data for Progress and sponsored by Phillips-Staley had Davidson ahead at 26% and Conley at 15%.

Campaign signs line Westchester Avenue in Pound Ridge. THANE GRAUEL PHOTO

Based on the most recent FEC filings, covering the period Feb. 18 to June 3, Conley has accumulated the most money among the Democratic candidates, with $3,258,197, and had $940,973 on hand. Davidson has accrued $2,062,800, and had $414,247 on hand. Phillips-Staley was far behind, with total receipts of $695,629, with $55,333 on hand. Sacks and Cappello were even further behind, with $298,002/$16,921 and $77,637/$21,110 respectively.

A breakdown by Integrity Index showed 99% of the money Davidson raised came from individuals, with 76% of that in-state and 24% out-of-state. That same index showed 89% of Conley’s money came from individuals, with 5% from PACs, though none had contributed more than $10,000. Another 5% came from transfers. Of the funds Conley raised, 49% came from in state and 51% out-of-state.

But the big cash infusions late in the campaign have come from Super PACs, both for and against Conley. In late May, VoteVets, a progressive PAC that backs veterans running for office, began a $1 million TV ad campaign to promote Conley. It also sponsored the May poll that showed Conley in the lead. A memo accompanying the poll said that “after voters were given informed, positive introductions to both candidates,” Conley’s lead grew to 20 points over Davidson, 44% to 24%, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. 

Conley has attracted $1.3 million in supportive PAC money from VoteVets and from New Democrat Majority. At the same time, $1.5 million has been spent against her by Progressive Champions PAC, a Super PAC that was just formed last month with a mission to “elect bold, progressive candidates up and down the ballot.” But investigative reporter Judd Legum, writing in Popular Information, claims that Progressive Champions PAC is a “GOP front” tied to the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC of the House Republican leadership, and is part of “a network of sham ‘progressive’ PACs attempting to influence key Democratic primaries across the country.” That assessment has been reinforced in other sources.

Phillips-Staley has the endorsement of the Working Families Party. Locally, Conley has been endorsed by the Lewisboro, Pound Ridge and Mount Kisco Democratic committees, while Davidson received the endorsement of the Bedford Democratic Committee.

Meanwhile, Lawler, who has not had to spend on a primary, announced he had raised $1,464,684 in the first quarter of 2026. FEC filings show him with a total of $7,472,987 raised, and $4,355,551 cash on hand, and Integrity Index shows him having raised nearly $16 million in the two year period from 2024 to 2026.

Voting under way

In addition to the 17th CD race, Democrats in our area will also find another contest on the ballot: New York State Comptroller. Incumbent Thomas DiNapoli is being challenged by both Raj Doyle and Drew Warshaw.

Early voting for registered Democrats began this week and will continue through Sunday. The closest early voting locations are Mount Kisco Public Library, 100 EastMain Street; Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Ave.; and Somers Town House, 335 Route 202. Times are Friday, June 19, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; and Sunday, June 21, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Primary Day is Tuesday, June 23, with voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at regular polling places.