Former Army Officer Cait Conley Wins Democratic Nomination in New York House Race

June 23, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Cait Conley, a West Point graduate and former Army officer, has won the Democratic nomination for New York’s 17th Congressional District, setting up a closely watched general election contest against Republican Representative Mike Lawler.

The Associated Press called the race after Conley defeated four other candidates in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Unofficial results showed Conley leading with 52 percent of the vote, followed by Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson with 28 percent. Effie Phillips-Staley received 15 percent, while John Cappello and Michael Sacks each received 2 percent, with 37 percent of estimated votes counted.

Conley’s victory advances her bid to challenge Lawler in November in one of the country’s most competitive House races. The district is considered a key Democratic target after being among the districts represented by Republicans where Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris won in 2024, according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball analysis.

A 16-year Army veteran, Conley served in combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and later held national security roles, including director for counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council. She also worked at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Her primary opponents included John Cappello, an Air Force veteran from Rockland County; Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator; Effie Phillips-Staley, a Tarrytown village trustee; and Michael Sacks, a lawyer and former television reporter.

Conley will face Lawler as he seeks a third term in Congress, with both parties viewing the race as a potential indicator of the broader battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Source: FSX Business News