A highly anticipated Democratic Congressional Candidates Forum took place Thursday evening at Haverstraw Town Hall, drawing a full crowd and significant online viewership as voters got a closer look at the five candidates vying to challenge Congressman Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th District.
The event, sponsored by the Town of Haverstraw Democratic Committee and the Stony Point Democratic Committee, featured candidates Beth Davidson, Cait Conley, Effie Phillips-Staley, John Cappello, and Mike Sacks. The forum was moderated by former State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.
Held at Haverstraw Town Hall, the forum began at 6:30 p.m. and ran through the evening, with attendees filling the venue to capacity amid strong interest in the race. For those unable to attend in person, the event was streamed live on Facebook via Reichlin-Melnick’s page and the Stony Point Democrats page.
Throughout the evening, candidates addressed a range of issues expected to shape the upcoming election, presenting their platforms and attempting to distinguish themselves in what is shaping up to be a competitive Democratic primary.
While Democrats are working to unify behind a challenger, political observers note that Congressman Mike Lawler enters the race with significant advantages, including strong name recognition and growing support across Rockland County. In particular, Lawler has continued to perform well among key voting blocs, positioning him as a formidable incumbent with a solid base heading into the 2026 election cycle.
