Leading Dems for NY-17 Visit Putnam

Beth Davidson and Cait Conley both recently visited Cold Spring to make their case to voters as to why they believe they are the best candidate to defeat Republican Mike Lawler in the November election for U.S. Congress in New York’s 17th District.

Davidson, a Rockland County legislator and former Nyack school board member, drew the larger crowd and was questioned most closely on policy issues. She called attention to her ability to get elected and to work across the aisle, and pointed out that in reaction to the start of war with Iran, she persuade her fellow legislators to pass a gas tax cap – aware of how much her constituents are already struggling with high costs of food and utilities.

Davidson said she is in favor of support for the Ukraine, and is concerned that U.S. foreign policy has drifted from the need to support Ukraine against Russia.

She is also in favor of a Medicare system that anyone could opt in to, but still choose private insurance in addition. She decried cuts in Medicaid, and the Department of Education, which she says have hurt families of special needs children.

Davidson said she believes campaign finance policy is desperately in need of reform.

When it comes to LGBRTQ+ rights, the candidate said she is strongly in favor of them and cited her working relationship with the Rockland Pride Center.

Davidson spoke passionately in opposition to the reopening of Indian Point, calling it a “bucket of bolts” and citing the billions of dollars and many years that would be required to get it recommissioned, while doing nothing to reduce utility bills in the meantime.

“As a mother and a person committed to the safety of children in our schools, I am strongly opposed to gun violence,” she added. “It is past time to restore the Assault Weapons Ban. We know it will save lives.”

Conley’s remarks were more generally focused on positioning herself as someone who can defeat Lawler because she is a “different kind of Democrat.” She shared her story as someone with a working-class background and praised the New York public schools that enabled her to graduate at the top of her class from West Point.

She has master’s degrees from MIT and Harvard, and served for 16 years in the U.S. military before working in counterterrorism for the Biden administration. She moved to Westchester from Washington, D.C., to run for the seat.

Conley described herself as someone who can best reach voters who are independent or moderate Republicans disenchanted with Trump and Lawler, saying she has a better chance than someone with more progressive credentials.

Affordability is the concern she emphasized the most, pointing out the high cost of living in the Hudson Valley and the damage done to essential services like the VA loan program that enabled her to buy her home.

“I am doing this because I believe we cannot afford to lose this seat in November – not just for our community, but for our country,” she said. “And I believe I can win it.”

The Putnam County Democratic Committee last week announced that it has endorsed Conley.

“In a race among strong Democratic candidates, Cait Conley has the X-factor that we think will give us the best chance to beat Mike Lawler in November,” said Jennifer Colamonico, committee chairperson. “Cait Conley has already been steadfast in her support for Putnam since day one, and we can’t wait to have this kind of partnership when we send her to Washington to represent us.” 

While there are five candidates in the race, only four received a nomination by the committee. On the first ballot, Conley was the decisive winner, with 63 percent of the vote.

“Putnam County Democrats are already knocking on doors and talking to voters about our outstanding slate of candidates all across the ballot,” said Colamonico. “We look forward to working hard to get Cait across the primary finish line, and then no matter what, working even harder to elect the entire Democratic slate in the fall.”

Also running in the June 23 Democratic primary for NY-17 are Mike Sacks, Effie Phillips-Staley, and John Cappello.