As Democrats battle to retake control of Congress in November, a pivotal race that could decide the balance of power in the House of Representatives is happening right in our backyard.
Three Democrats vying to challenge the Republican incumbent in the 17th district, Congressman Mike Lawler, debated before a huge crowd at Manhattanville University on April 9th – just 10 weeks before primary election day on June 23rd.
The 17th includes most of western and northern Westchester County – including river towns from Peekskill to Tarrytown – as well as most of Rockland and Putnam Counties and a slice of Dutchess.
According to the non-partisan Cook report, this race is a tossup “Republican Mike Lawler represents a purple district in the Hudson Valley that should be one of the Democrats’ best pick-up opportunities.”
Democrats only have to flip a few seats to retake the majority in House.
The 17th is one of only 3 Congressional districts in the country where Kamala Harris won in 2024, but the Democrat lost in the House race, according to the Westchester County Democratic Committee (WCDC).
The candidates who squared off at Manhattanville are Army Veteran and former Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council at the White House Cait Conley, Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson and Tarrytown Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley.
Air Force Veteran John Cappello and “lawyer-turned television reporter” Mike Sacks are also running in the primary, but they weren’t invited to debate as they didn’t meet a “set of criteria” set by the WCDC, said Vice Chair Bruce Campbell.
And former Briarcliff Manor Mayor Peter Chatzky had been invited to attend, but on debate day he suspended his campaign for Congress, according to the WCDC.
The debate was moderated by veteran journalists Jeff Coltin, Editor in Chief of City and State magazine and Barrett Seaman, Editor of The Hudson Independent.
Throughout the 90-minute debate, the candidates attacked Rep. Lawler about Iran, Medicare cuts, President Trump, the economy, immigration, Iran and more.
The moderators kicked off the questioning by asking the candidates why they would “do any better” against Rep. Lawler, after democrats lost to him in the past two elections. “We have seen as Mike Lawler has faced and beaten politicians twice, if we want a different kind of outcome in November, we need a different kind of Democrat, and I have shown my ability to build a coalition across this district,” said Conley.
“I’m proud to have served this community for the last ten years, and to have lived here for the past twenty building coalitions around issues like clean water and reproductive rights, healthcare and gun safety,” said Davidson.
Phillips-Staley said, Democrat are going to “keep losing” unless we can turn out “the working class, people under 30, progressive voters, people of color – all who have felt disenfranchised by this party and the process.” She added “We have to beat Mike Lawler with the largest coalition possible.”
The candidates were also asked whether President Trump was justified in “attacking Iran.”
“He has dragged us into yet another conflict with no obvious off ramp. And Mike Lawler more importantly has rubber stamped it every step of the way,” said Davidson. “I support ending this war as quickly as possible.”
“We are spending $1.5 billion a day on this war, on this terrifyingly unjust war that frankly I believe was launched by a madman. It’s my understanding that decades of military intelligence has indicated that a war like this is not winnable” said Phillips-Staley.
“What Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth have got us in to isn’t making America any more safe. They’ve replaced one Ayatollah with a 30-year younger son who’s even more hardline. This is not about national security and America’s best interests, it’s about incompetence and it needs to end,” said Conley.
According to the polls, the economy is the top issue that concerns voters, especially inflation. When the candidates were asked about “affordability,” Davidson said she supports “a gas tax holiday to get some relief at the pump for our constituents.” She also said the cost of housing needs to be addressed as “it drives up all other costs.”
“I would pass an ultra-millionaires’ tax, that’s a wealth tax on people worth over 50 million and 6% on people worth over one billion. That would create the funds we need to fund housing, childcare, healthcare, so many needs within this district” said Phillips-Staley.
“The first thing we need to do is undo the harm, that means ending the illegal tariffs that have raised prices on everything from prescriptions, to groceries, the cost of housing, construction materials at a time that we’re facing a housing crisis,” said Conley.
During the “lightning round” the moderators asked the candidates who in the cabinet they would impeach. Conley said (Secretary of War) “Hegseth”, Davidson chose (HHS Secretary) “RFK”, and Phillips-Staley picked (Secretary of State) “Rubio.”
When asked “what they would do” about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Davidson said “We need a system that is humane and streamlined.”
“Abolish ICE it cannot be reformed” added Phillips-Staley.
“Reigning this in up and down the leadership board needs to happen,” said Conley. “I’d abolish ICE.”
The “Lightning Round” also covered local issues in the district, like Indian Point and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
Seaman said Congressman Lawler has proposed reopening Indian Point as a nuclear power plant, and he asked the candidates whether they support that. All three of them adamantly opposed the idea and voiced their support for more clean and renewable energy sources.
He also said Lawler has “made a very big deal over wanting to rename the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge” and asked whether the candidates would support that.
“I grew up with the Tappan Zee, and it will always be the Tappan Zee to me,” said Conley. “Let’s call it the Pete Seger Bridge, that sounds better to me” added Davidson. “I always call it the Tappan Zee; I can’t really call it anything else” said Phillips-Staley.
The candidates had their say, now it’s your turn. Early voting runs from June 13th through June 21st, and primary election day is June 23rd.
