WASHINGTON — Cait Conley is the projected winner of the Democratic primary for New York’s 17th congressional district despite Republican meddling. Conley will face Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) in a November matchup key to Democratic hopes of retaking the House of Representatives. Lawler is one of only three Republicans representing districts that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, and Republicans seemed to consider Conley, an Army veteran and former national security official, his strongest potential opponent in the general election. A group affiliated with House Republicans ran attack ads essentially accusing Conley of not being progressive on immigration, and Lawler himself has sought to boost one of Conley’s opponents. “It is a very clear signal that he knows we’re going to build a coalition and beat him in November,” Conley told HuffPost. Conley’s competitors in the primary included Beth Davidson, a county legislator and Conley’s closest rival in polls, as well as John Cappello, Effie Phillips-Staley and Mike Sacks. Lawler is a moderate Republican who has occasionally resisted the party’s agenda on Capitol Hill. Last summer, he threatened to vote against a priority tax bill if it didn’t massively increase a deduction for state and local taxes. Party leaders approved a modest increase in the deduction and Lawler voted for the bill. Conley said her military background, including 16 years of active duty service, some of it in combat zones, and her deep family roots in the district will help her in the general election. “My service is going to matter a lot in this district, where 20% of registered voters are unaffiliated or independent,’ Conley said. “In New York 17, over 50% of households are either connected to active duty service members, veterans, first responders, or law enforcement.” RelatedCongressNew YorkDemocrats2026 elections