Democrats Vie for Mike Lawler's NY House Seat

Candidates meet with Rockland's Haitian community ahead of primary

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:16am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone campaign sign on a city street, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, capturing the quiet contemplation of the political process.As the race for New York's 17th Congressional District heats up, candidates seek to connect with local communities and inspire a new generation of voters.Spring Valley Today

All six Democratic candidates running to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York's 17th Congressional District recently gathered at Konbit Neg Lakay, a community center in Spring Valley, to meet with members of Rockland County's Haitian population. The event highlighted the diversity of the district and the candidates' efforts to engage with local communities ahead of the primary election.

Why it matters

New York's 17th District is a battleground that could play a key role in determining control of the House of Representatives. The Democratic primary will be highly competitive, and the winner will need to mobilize a diverse coalition of voters to have a chance of defeating the incumbent Republican in the general election.

The details

The six Democratic candidates - Assemblyman Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi, Rockland County Legislator Aney Paul Nunes, Spring Valley Mayor Alan Simon, Nyack Village Trustee Jen White, and Rockland County Legislator Harriet Cornell - all attended the event at Konbit Neg Lakay to introduce themselves to the Haitian community and hear their concerns. The candidates discussed issues like immigration, economic development, and education that are important to the Haitian-American voters in the district.

  • The event took place on April 7, 2026 in Spring Valley, New York.
  • The Democratic primary election in New York's 17th District is scheduled for June 23, 2026.

The players

Rep. Mike Lawler

The incumbent Republican representative for New York's 17th Congressional District, who is seeking re-election.

Assemblyman Elijah Reichlin-Melnick

One of the six Democratic candidates running to unseat Lawler.

Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi

One of the six Democratic candidates running to unseat Lawler.

Rockland County Legislator Aney Paul Nunes

One of the six Democratic candidates running to unseat Lawler.

Spring Valley Mayor Alan Simon

One of the six Democratic candidates running to unseat Lawler.

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What they’re saying

“We recognize the massive value of a platform that engages millions of young people in the democratic process.”

— Assemblyman Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Democratic Candidate

What’s next

The Democratic primary election in New York's 17th District is scheduled for June 23, 2026. The winner will then face off against Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler in the general election on November 5, 2026.

The takeaway

The competitive Democratic primary in New York's 17th District highlights the importance of engaging diverse communities and mobilizing young voters in order to have a chance of flipping this battleground seat from Republican to Democratic control.