Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer are here, and apparently everyone is running for office—including the dog catcher.

It is that time of year when the heat is high, the parking lots are half empty, emails go unanswered, and everyone is trying to squeeze in one last vacation before summer gives way to school, sports, and the fall routine. The lanternflies are back, the humidity is relentless, and for a few weeks it can feel like the entire Hudson Valley has slowed down.

Except for politics.

While the rest of us are trying to enjoy whatever summer we have left, the political machines are humming. And HGAR happens to cover a pretty important piece of the political battlefield this year.

The reason is simple: NY-17.

The race between Republican Congressman Mike Lawler and Democrat Cait Conley is now considered a toss-up and is one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country. The district includes Putnam and parts of Westchester, Rockland, and Dutchess, and the outcome could have real implications for control of the House of Representatives.

That means the political strategists are paying attention. A lot of attention.

And one of the best ways to drive turnout is to have competitive races up and down the ballot. This year, it seems like almost everyone has a challenger.

Apparently, even Assemblyman Matt Slater, who represents the 94th Assembly District and holds what is generally considered a very safe seat, has a challenger.

At this point, you could be forgiven for thinking there is a contested race for just about every office in the Hudson Valley—including, as the joke goes, the dog catcher.

But underneath all of those races, there are a few contests that deserve particular attention.

NY-17: Mike Lawler vs. Cait Conley

The race between Mike Lawler and Cait Conley is the obvious one.

Lawler won the seat in 2022 and has positioned himself as a pragmatic Republican who can appeal to the suburban swing voters who ultimately decide elections in districts like NY-17. Conley, a West Point graduate and former national security official, emerged from a competitive Democratic primary and is now trying to flip the district.

At the moment, the race is about as competitive as it gets. Both campaigns are spending heavily, outside groups are pouring money into the district, and national Democrats and Republicans are treating NY-17 as a critical piece of the fight for the House.

For voters in the Hudson Valley, there are plenty of issues to consider. The cost of living is high, energy costs remain a concern, and taxes are always part of the conversation.

One of the most important issues for New York taxpayers is SALT.

The federal State and Local Tax deduction has always been particularly important to New York homeowners and taxpayers. Lawler has made the expansion of the SALT deduction a major part of his campaign message, pointing to his work to quadruple the deduction as an important accomplishment for New Yorkers.

That is a particularly relevant issue in a district where property taxes are a fact of life for homeowners.

The race also has some interesting policy contrasts. Lawler has recently pushed for reconsideration of nuclear power at Indian Point as a way to address New York's high energy costs, while Conley opposes reopening the facility and is advocating for additional renewable energy investments.

Whatever the position on those issues, there is no question that this will be one of the races everyone will be watching on election night.

NYS Senate District 40: Pete Harckham vs. Sergio Esposito

If NY-17 is the race everyone is talking about, State Senate District 40 is the race people who care about Albany should be watching.

Democratic State Senator Pete Harckham is seeking another term against Republican Sergio Esposito. The district includes communities throughout northern Westchester as well as Carmel, Kent, Patterson and Southeast and the Village of Brewster in Putnam County.

Harckham has been in the Senate since 2019 and currently chairs the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee.

This race is particularly interesting because the 40th District sits right at the intersection of so many of the issues that dominate Hudson Valley politics: development, environmental policy, infrastructure, local government and the state's overall approach to growth.

And unlike Congress, Albany has a very direct influence on what happens in our communities.

The outcome will determine who represents this part of the Hudson Valley in a State Senate that will continue to wrestle with some very difficult questions about New York's future.

Putnam County Executive: Kevin Byrne, Brett Yarris and Tatiana Brahimi

Then there is the race closest to home for Putnam County voters.

Republican County Executive Kevin Byrne is seeking reelection, but this year's contest is anything but a conventional two-party race.

Democrat Brett Yarris is challenging Byrne, while the Conservative Party has nominated Tatiana Brahimi instead of backing the incumbent. Byrne previously had the Republican and Conservative lines and ran unopposed in 2022, making the Conservative Party's decision this year a significant development.

That makes this a genuinely interesting local race.

Yarris is campaigning under the banner of "Putnam Possible," emphasizing economic development, education and workforce opportunities, housing, downtown revitalization and the preservation of Putnam's open space. Byrne is seeking to continue the direction of the county under his administration, while Brahimi's candidacy gives voters another conservative option.

The question for Putnam voters is ultimately what they want the county to look like five, ten or twenty years from now.

Putnam has done a remarkable job preserving the character and open space that make the county attractive. But the county is also part of a rapidly changing Hudson Valley. The decisions made by the next County Executive will help determine how Putnam handles growth, infrastructure, economic development and the changing needs of its residents.

Three races. Three different levels of government. And three very different political dynamics.

But that's what makes this election season interesting.

The dog days of summer may be here, but politically speaking, the Hudson Valley is anything but quiet. And when the leaves start to turn, the campaigns will be in full sprint.

By November, we'll find out who was actually running for something—and who was just chasing the dog.