New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s electoral success last year is producing downstream effects on Democrats in the Empire State.
New York’s 17th District has a crowded field of Democrats vying to challenge GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who is fighting for a third term in one of the most <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483656">competitive</a> districts in the country. In order to survive a primary, Democratic candidates are struggling to balance between the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-tail-wagging-the-dog-progressives-dominate-democratic-politics-in-maine-and-beyond">influence</a> Mamdani and his socialist politics have had on the Democratic Party and the moderate appetites of general election voters.
Army combat veteran Cait Conley and Rockland County lawmaker Beth Davidson are <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/01/06/the-super-self-funder-in-ny-17-00712041">reputedly</a> the establishment picks of NY-17’s Democratic primary. Both were the only candidates invited from the district to attend a “candidate week” for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in November.
Conley and Davidson are facing a strong outside challenge from Briarcliff Manor Deputy Mayor Peter Chatzky, who made his fortune as founder and CEO of the small tech company Napa Group LLC. Chatzky is already one of the best-funded candidates in the country after <a href="https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/07/ny-17-democrat-peter-chatzky-puts-up-own-money-in-crowded-primary-for-mike-lawler-seat/88050267007/">loaning</a> his campaign nearly $6 million.
Those three candidates and a handful of others are still collecting signatures to qualify for the Democratic primary scheduled for June 23. Ahead of the primary ballot being finalized, candidates have taken steps to avoid alienating the far-Left of the Democratic base on issues such as defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a broadly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/polls-deliver-clear-verdict-americans-back-trumps-deportation-agenda-reject-anti-ice-politics?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Polls+Deliver+Clear+Verdict%3A+Americans+Back+Trump%E2%80%99s+Deportation+Agenda%2C+Reject+Anti-ICE+Politics">unpopular</a> stance.
The self-funded Chatzky, who claims to be a “pragmatic progressive,” <a href="https://x.com/peterchatzky/status/2015532998800613595">said</a> in a video last month that “it is time to abolish ICE.” His <a href="https://chatzkyforcongress.com/#priorities">website</a> also touts his support for “universal health insurance” and “universal pre-K.” His campaign site additionally contains a nod to the progressive values of “Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity.”
On all those issues and more, Chatzky’s platform overlaps with Mamdani. The New York City mayor’s endorsement has come up as somewhat of a litmus test for NY-17 Democrats, with none of them outright rejecting his potential support. In a sign of Mamdani’s direct influence on New York politics, Chatzky has also <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/26/us-news/ny-dem-hopefuls-who-dodged-publicly-aligning-with-mamdani-now-welcome-backing/">said</a> that he would “probably” accept an endorsement from Mamdani after previously dodging questions related to the self-described “Democratic socialist.”
“He’s energetic. He ran a very impressive campaign,” said Chatzky late last month. “He focused on affordability. It’s a problem in [Lawler’s] district as well.”
Davidson, in her position as a legislator, is attempting to make Rockland County a sanctuary region that would offer some amount of protection for illegal aliens. Davidson is pushing a piece of legislation that she calls the “Our Safety and Dignity for All Act,” which would restrict how local law enforcement and other government workers cooperate with federal immigration officers.
Davidson has become one of the leading faces of the push in Rockland County, which sits inside NY-17, to limit federal immigration enforcement. She has <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/rockland-county-ice-enforcement-safety-and-dignity-for-all-act/">pointed</a> to the recent clashes involving immigration officers in Minneapolis as the spark for the new law.
“The Safety and Dignity Act is intended to address those concerns while honoring state and federal and judicial warrants and following the law,” said Davidson this week.
She also gave a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-safety-and-dignity-for-all-act-and-what-it/id1598985733?i=1000747782362">nod</a> to Mamdani in a recent podcast episode, highlighting the New York City mayor&#8217;s focus on “affordability” during his mayoral campaign as a central focus for her race as well.
But she has also kept her distance from Mamdani in what could be a tacit admission that Mamdani’s far-Left politics may not play well in the swing district of NY-17.
“I’m not seeking endorsements from elected officials from New York City,” said Davidson last month. She did not reject the possibility of an endorsement from the New York City mayor, however.
Conley has taken a similar line on a potential Mamdani endorsement: not seeking it, but not rejecting the democratic socialist, either. When asked last week whether she would welcome an endorsement from Mamdani, Conley said, &#8220;I think New York City is different than the Hudson Valley.”
She went on to state that she seeks to emulate parts of Mamdani’s campaign, however, such as his “young energy.”
“I respect what I believe Mamdani represents to so many people here in New York City, which is new leadership, which is young energy that isn’t afraid to tackle hard problems,” said Conley in an interview on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnAJP6pWYHI&amp;t=433s">PIX11</a>.
In the same interview, she appeared to struggle to answer a question on whether ICE should be defunded. When pressed, Conley said “abuses should be abolished” and ICE leadership held accountable. The Democratic candidate insisted that the focus on ICE is misplaced and that the real issue is executive branch accountability. She did not condemn calls within her party to abolish the agency.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Mamdani’s Socialist Influence Weighs On Dems In One Of New York’s Most Competitive Districts

CONTINUE READING

Trump Says Netflix Should Fire ‘Racist, Trump Deranged’ Susan Rice

Trump Orders Release Of ‘Any And All’ Info On Aliens And UFOs

Man Targets DHS Building With Stolen Ambulance In Attempted Arson Attack

Bill Gates Drops Out Of Keynote Speech Last Minute As Epstein Rumors Swirl

Trump Left The World Health Org Last Year. Now, He’s Replacing It.

One Of The CDC’s Biggest Critics Is Now In Charge Of The Whole Thing

News

Elections

New York

New York City

Politics

Zohran Mamdani

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Mamdani’s Socialist Influence Weighs On Dems In One Of New York’s Most Competitive Districts