With Democrats in NY-17 debating tonight, endorsements come into focus as race ramps up
Manhattanville College debate looms Thursday night as former Assemblywoman Galef and activist Kevin McAvey say they back Beth Davidson
Political endorsements can show voters the breadth of a candidate’s appeal, signal donors that a campaign has traction, and help convince party leaders their campaign has traction in the community.
It can also get you on stage for Westchester County Democratic Committee’s candidate debate Thursday night at 7 p.m. Manhattanville College for the upcoming primary in New York’s 17th Congressional District. They are vying to face Rep. Mike Lawler, R-Pearl River, in November in a district that comprises Rockland and Putnam counties, Westchester north of White Plains, and three municipalities in Dutchess.
Four of six candidates who filed nominating petitions made the cut, with endorsements among the criteria for inclusion, along with funds raised, and the candidate’s standing in polls made public by campaigns.
Making the stage were Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson, of Nyack; former National Security Council Counterterrorism Director Cait Conley, of New Castle; Briarcliff Manor Deputy Mayor Peter Chatzky; and Tarrytown Village Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley.
Not included on the invitation list were television journalist Mike Sacks, of Cortlandt, and retired Air Force veteran John Cappello, of Suffern. Both Sacks and Cappello weighed in at 1% support in a recent poll conducted by Davidson’s campaign.
Cappello listed no endorsements on his campaign website. Sacks had just one: a political action committee called Blue America, founded by three Democratic activists. Sacks urged voters to hear his pitch at half-dozen forums over the next three weeks – from Haverstraw to Stony Point and Ossining.
Davidson picks up new endorsements
It seems fitting that the campaign’s leading candidates – Davidson and Conley – have garnered the lion’s share of endorsements while Phillips-Staley has won the backing of the Working Families Party, former US Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-Yonkers, Latino Democratic leaders and elected officials in Tarrytown, Ossining, Sleepy Hollow, and Bedford.
Two new Davidson endorsements were revealed on Thursday: NY-17 activist Kevin McAvey, who hosted the Democrats’ health-care forum in Bedford in February, and former Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, of Ossining.
“She’s deeply rooted in our community and has been serving residents of Rockland for nearly two decades,” said McAvey, of Bedford. “She is passionate about public service and has the temperament and experience to beat Mike Lawler.”
Davidson’s campaign has the backing of the Rockland Democratic Committee and town committees in Kent, in Putnam County, and Somers in Westchester County, along with a long list of current present and former elected officials in the 17th. They include Rockland County Legislature Chair Jay Hood, former Rep. Mondaire Jones, who lost to Lawler in 2024, and Assembly members Aaron Wieder and Pat Carroll from Rockland County. She also has the backing of Shannon Powell, who heads up Indivisible Westchester.
The Galef endorsement went live on X Wednesday evening, with Galef saying that Davidson’s service on the Nyack school board and the Rockland County legislature gave her a solid background for service in Washington. Galef said she’s been involved in the conversation since 2025 over who would be best to take on Lawler in November.
“We were all looking at – who is the person who can best beat Lawler,” she said to Davidson in a campaign ad. “That’s been driving the conversation for the last year, and I think that you are able to do. He seems to be very sensitive about you.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” replied Davidson, with a wink.
“I think he doesn’t want to run against you so I think we should make sure that he does,” said Galef.
Conley’s endorsements
Conley won the endorsement of the Democratic committee in Kent, which endorsed Chatzky as well, along with Democratic committees in Peekskill, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge and Dutchess County. Two members of Congress who served in the US Army back her: Rep. Pat Ryan, D-Ulster, and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado.
“Every way you have conducted yourself in this race shows that you’re not just a fighter, but a fighter with purpose,” said Ryan at a Conley event on Jan. 16. “You know who you are fighting for because you are a fourth-generation rooted in our shared community in the Hudson Valley. You visualize the people of this district who have not had a representative fighting for them.”
She also has endorsements from a slew of issue-based political action committees in Washington, DC, including Vote Vets, which supports veterans running for office; Giffords PAC, which supports gun safety; LGBTQ+ Victory Fund; NRDC Action Fund, which supports the environment; and the Democratic Majority for Israel, which supports policies that strengthen the nation of Israel. On April 7, she received the endorsement of the Future Forum PAC, founded by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California, in 2015, which has more than 50 members of Congress on its board, and backs young Democratic candidates.
Croton-on-Hudson Mayor Brian Pugh says Conley’s experience in the US Army and at the White House prepare her well for the job.
“She does not need a briefing book to understand the threats facing our democracy,” he said.
Elected officials from all four counties in NY-17 back Conley. They include North Castle Supervisor Joe Rende, Cortlandt Supervisor Richard Becker, Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, and Yvette Valdes Smith, who chairs the Dutchess County Legislature.
Phillips-Staley’s endorsements
Phillips-Staley’s endorsements include former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-Yonkers, longtime Latino Democratic leader Robin Bikkal, and several elected officials from Tarrytown, Ossining, Sleepy Hollow and Yonkers, including Tarrytown trustees David Kim, Thomas Mitchell, Kenny Herzog and Rebecca McGovern.
“Effie is the leader the Hudson Valley needs in this moment,” said Bowman. “She also brings a moral clarity that no other candidate in the race has shown – speaking out against the genocide in Gaza, refusing donations from corporate PACs and AIPAC, and pledging to fix our inhumane immigration system. She represents a historic opportunity to elect the first Salvadoran member of Congress in history. She is the exact type of leader we need in Congress and I am proud to endorse her,”
Chatzky’s endorsements
Chatzky, meanwhile, lists 11 endorsements on his campaign page, with 9 of them living or working in Briarcliff Manor.
Among them is Rhea Mallett, a Briarcliff Manor village trustee who has served alongside Chatzky for the past four years. She said Chatzky blends his persistence on issues with a heart for his suburban neighbors.
“He shows up for 100-year birthdays and works late into the night to make sure he’s communicating with the state about how dangerous Route 9A is with the trucks,” she said. “He’s on both ends of the spectrum.”
She said Chatzky’s deep pockets – with $5.7 million loaned his campaign – frees him up to take on the special interests.
“He’s not beholden to the special interests,” she said. “He’s willing to put his money where his mouth is. He’s the best candidate for CD -17. I think he can beat Lawler.”
Westchester and Putnam Dems to endorse soon
Two county Democratic committee – in Westchester and Putnam – have yet to endorse a candidate in the primary. The executive committee of the Westchester Democratic Committee in NY-17 will meet April 15 to decide on whether to endorse a candidate, and if they vote to do so, will decide on a preferred candidate.
Westchester’s part of the district comprises 12 towns, the city of Peekskill and half of the village of Tarrytown. Party chair Suzanne Berger said there are 33 executive committee members from those municipalities.
The Putnam County Democratic Committee will meet April 20 to endorse its favored candidate.