Pro-veterans PAC launches $1M ad spend to boost Conley in NY-17

A progressive PAC that backs veterans running for office is spending $1 million to air a TV ad supporting Democrat Cait Conley in the final stretch of the closely watched primary that will determine Rep. Mike Lawler’s opponent this fall. 

VoteVets is running a 30-second spot – shared exclusively with City & State – highlighting Conley’s generational ties to the 17th Congressional District. Conley, a former election security official who served on the National Security Council in the Biden administration, left the Hudson Valley and completed six deployments overseas. But the 16-year U.S. Army veteran caught flak for moving back to the district from Virginia last year to run for the swingy seat. The ad will run solely on cable networks in the district, targeting audiences on ESPN, HGTV, Lifetime and Hallmark, as well as during live Yankees and Mets games.

“From combat zones to the Situation Room, she knows where she comes from,” the narrator says, in a nod to both Conley’s service and Hudson Valley roots. But as has been common in the race, VoteVets was unable to resist taking a swipe at President Donald Trump: “Cait’s running for Congress to take on Trump’s corruption, rein in ICE, and bring down costs for Hudson Valley families.”

Conley and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson are the front-runners in the June 23 primary, but candidates Effie Phillips-Staley, John Cappello and Mike Sacks will also appear on the ballot. VoteVets, which endorsed Conley almost a year ago, also commissioned a poll that shows her with a 7-point lead over Davidson among voters who are familiar with both leading candidates. Conley's lead grew to 20 points over Davidson – 44% to Davidson’s 24% – after voters were given informed, positive introductions to both candidates, according to the polling memo. The poll, conducted by the Global Strategy Group, has a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. A total of 500 likely Democratic primary voters were surveyed in the district from May 7 to 12 via live telephone interviews.

“The momentum we are feeling on the ground is palpable,” Conley said in a statement to City & State. “This poll confirms what we already know: NY-17 voters are ready for a fighter. We're fighting to lower costs for Hudson Valley families and protect our democracy from those who seek to exploit it for their own gain. With less than four weeks to go, we are not taking our foot off the gas for one minute.” 

Davidson’s campaign declined to comment on the poll. Other polls conducted in the race last month, as reported by The New York Times, have shown Davidson in the lead over Conley.