There is a seven-way Democratic primary race Tuesday in New York’s 17th Congressional District, where Democrat Nita Lowey is not seeking re-election after 16 terms. In public polling, the same names occupy the top four slots, though in differing orders. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with Inside Elections Analyst and Reporter Jacob Rubashkin about the NY-17 primary.
New York state Assemblyman David Buchwald; state Senator David Carlucci; Asha Castleberry Hernandez; Evelyn Farkas; Allison Fine; Mondaire Jones; and Adam Schleifer are battling it out for the district that includes all of Rockland County and part of Westchester.
Jones was the first candidate to declare, before Lowey announced she would not seek re-election. A poll in early June from Data for Progress shows Carlucci ahead with 15 percent; Farkas and Schleifer tied with 13 percent; Jones with 12 percent; and 38 percent unsure. A poll out last week from Public Policy Polling has Jones leading with 25 percent; Schleifer and Farkas tied with 14 percent; Carlucci with 11 percent; and 24 percent not sure. Schleifer is the son of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals CEO Len Schleifer. Rubashkin says Schliefer has spent $3.7 million of his own money on the race.
Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker withdrew from the race at the end of May, but her name will still appear on the ballot.
