Democrats prepare for June 23 primaries
Six Democratic candidates filed nominating petitions with the state Board of Elections by the April 6 deadline to challenge Rep. Mike Lawler for his U.S. House seat representing Philipstown, although one — Peter Chatzky — dropped out on Thursday (April 9).
Lawler, who filed petitions to appear on the Republican and Conservative lines on the November ballot, is seeking his third 2-year term.
A Democratic primary is scheduled for June 23. The candidates who filed are John Cappello, a Rockland native and former defense attaché at the U.S. embassies in Israel and Serbia; Chatzky, a tech company founder and village trustee in Briarcliff Manor; Cait Conley, a West Point graduate from Orange County and former director of counterterrorism for the National Security Council; Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator; Effie Phillips-Staley, a Tarrytown trustee who is a nonprofit executive; and Mike Sacks, a lawyer and former TV journalist from Westchester.
Each candidate had to collect at least 1,250 signatures from voters in District 17. Typically, a candidate files far more than required because the Board of Elections can invalidate signatures if opponents file challenges.
On Thursday, Alyssa Verrilli, Chatzky's campaign manager, confirmed reports that he had ended his campaign. A debate hosted on Thursday at Manhattanville University in Purchase by the Westchester County Democratic Committee with four candidates selected based on polling, money raised and endorsements — Chatzky, Conley, Davidson and Phillips-Staley — proceeded with three. A recording is posted below and at dub.sh/district-17-debate.
In District 18, which includes Beacon, incumbent Rep. Pat Ryan filed petitions for the Democratic and Working Families lines, and Sharanjit Thind filed for the Republican and Conservative lines.
The Dutchess County Democratic Committee has endorsed Conley and Ryan. The Putnam County Democratic Committee is expected to make endorsements after its April 20 meeting.
In state legislative contests, retired teacher Laurie Ryan filed for the Republican and Conservative lines to oppose Dana Levenberg, the incumbent Democrat whose 95th Assembly district includes Philipstown. In District 104, which includes Beacon, Ali Muhammad, a former Beacon City Council member who now lives in Newburgh, will challenge incumbent Jonathan Jacobson in a Democratic primary. Robert F. Johnson filed to run as a Republican.
Three Democrats will face off in the June 23 primary to challenge the Republican incumbent, Rob Rolison, for the state Senate seat that represents the Highlands: Lisa Kaul, a Dutchess County legislator who represents part of the Town of Poughkeepsie; Gay Lee, a social worker and former Newburgh City Council member who ran for the seat in 2014; and Evan Menist, a member of the Poughkeepsie Common Council.
The Dutchess County Democratic Committee has endorsed Kaul for the state Senate and Jacobson for the Assembly. The Putnam County Democratic Committee has endorsed Levenberg.

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