Cait Conley won the Democratic primary for New York's 17th Congressional District on June 24, 2026, securing 51.5% of the vote. She faced four other candidates, with Beth Davidson coming in second at 28.9%. Conley, an Army veteran, overcame significant outside spending against her campaign, reportedly around $1 million from a PAC linked to Republican interests. Polling prior to the primary indicated Conley had a strong lead, and she was the top fundraiser among the candidates.
The district is considered a battleground, having elected a Republican while also supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Lawler, the incumbent Republican representative, has positioned himself as a centrist but faces challenges from declining approval ratings for President Donald Trump and rising energy costs due to geopolitical tensions. The Cook Political Report classifies Lawler's race as a tossup.
Conley faced scrutiny regarding her connections to tech companies involved with the Department of Homeland Security, which some critics linked to Trump's deportation policies. She defended her associations by stating they were focused on public safety. Lawler has maintained a relationship with Trump, including hosting a rally with him in Rockland, a conservative area of his district.