Voters head to the polls in the Lower Hudson Valley on Tuesday, June 23, for a high-profile congressional race and a smattering of other primaries that include a rare Democratic challenge for New York’s longtime comptroller.
With election day at hand after nine days of early voting ended June 21, the marquee contest is the Democratic primary for the 17th District seat held by Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. Five Democrats are vying to take on the second-term incumbent in what’s viewed as one of the country’s most competitive elections this fall — a crucial seat to help decide which party wins control of the House of Representatives.
Army veteran Cait Conley and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson are top contenders in that race, with Tarrytown Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley running third in recent polling and plenty of Democratic voters still undecided. Sharing the ballot with them are former journalist Mike Sacks and Air Force veteran John Cappello.
The 17th District takes in all of Rockland and Putnam counties, the northern half of Westchester County and three southern Dutchess County towns.
Democratic voters also will take up a statewide primary for comptroller — New York’s chief fiscal officer and overseer of the state’s giant public pension fund. Tom DiNapoli, the Democrat who has held that post since 2007, has never faced a Democratic challenger in that long tenure but has two this year: Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle. That’s the sole statewide race on New York primary ballots.
What other races are on local primary ballots?
Much of the Hudson Valley’s primary voting on June 23 is strictly for registered Democrats. Among the races:
Where and when to vote
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. All New York primaries, regardless of which party, are open only to voters enrolled in that party. Voters can verify their party affiliation and assigned polling station at this web site: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/
Full information on primary races in the lower Hudson Valley and voting locations can be found on these county Board of Elections sites:
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Key primary races to watch in New York’s Hudson Valley and how to vote
Reporting by Chris McKenna, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chris McKenna, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
