Key Democratic Leaders Rally Behind Beth Davidson to Defeat Mike Lawler in 2026

Following Rep. Mike Lawler’s announcement that he will seek reelection in New York’s 17th Congressional District, a group of key Democratic leaders in the lower Hudson Valley has issued a joint statement supporting Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson as the strongest Democrat to run against Lawler in the race for the critical swing seat.

NY-17 is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the country in 2026. Incumbent Republican Lawler, who has aligned himself closely with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, narrowly won the seat in 2022. Davidson’s campaign has emphasized the need for a Democrat who can compete and win in all corners of the district, especially in Rockland, County, where Lawler draws his base of support from.

“Mike Lawler has obeyed Donald Trump and is officially running for re-election, and we need to nominate the candidate with the deepest local roots, the most expansive support, and a proven record of winning some of the toughest parts of this district, and that candidate is Beth Davidson.

We believe Beth is the strongest Democrat to take on Mike Lawler in the general election, and we are proud to stand with her. Beth is the only candidate in this race with a proven track record of winning tough, swing districts. She’s a coalition-builder who has earned the trust of Democrats, independents, and swing voters alike, not just with promises of what she will do, but with a proven track record of results. She’s already won elections in Rockland County, the swing county that will decide this race, and she knows how to do it again.

Beth has spent the last two decades serving this community, as a school board vice president, Rockland County legislator, and leader in the Jewish community. From protecting public schools to preserving open space to fighting for affordable healthcare, Beth has shown up, rolled up her sleeves, and gotten things done.

This district needs a fighter who understands what families here are up against, and who won’t back down from taking on extremists like Mike Lawler and Donald Trump. Beth has lived those struggles firsthand. She’s taken on powerful institutions, beaten the odds, and come out stronger. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we need in Congress. The path to flipping NY-17 runs straight through Rockland County and Beth is the only Democrat in this race who can win Rockland and take this seat back.

We’re proud to support Beth Davidson, and we urge Democrats across the district to join us in backing the candidate who can beat Mike Lawler and deliver real results for the Hudson Valley.”

Signed,

Assemblymember Patrick Carroll; Nyack Mayor Joe Rand; Shannon Powell, Co-Founder and Head of Indivisible Westchester; Michael Kaplowitz, former Chair, Westchester County Board of Legislators; Nancy Street, Chair, Westchester Jewish Democrats; Haverstraw Village Mayor Mike Kohut; Rockland County Legislators Paul Cleary, Jesse Malowitz and Dana Stilley; Nyack Trustee Nathalie Riobe; former Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner and former Nyack Mayor Don Hammond.

Davidson has built a broad base of grassroots support across NY-17, with over 100 endorsements earned to date. Her campaign emphasizes her record of delivering bipartisan results, knowledge of local issues, and success in building coalitions that turn out voters across party lines. Her supporters also note that Davidson’s record of service, from fighting for affordable housing to protecting public schools and delivering real results on public safety, is aligned with the priorities of voters in NY-17. She and her husband, Jeff, moved 20 years ago to Nyack, where they are raising their two children, both of whom attend public school.

New York’s 17th Congressional District includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, northern Westchester County, and part of Dutchess County. District residents interested in Davidson’s election campaign can visit https://bethdavidsonforcongress.com/, https://www.facebook.com/beth4congress, https://bsky.app/pr,ile/bethdavidson.bsky.social, https://www.instagram.com/beth4congress/ and https://x.com/BethDavidson17 to learn more, volunteer, and/or contribute.