Beth Davidson Leads Early in NY-17 Democratic Primary, New Poll Finds

A newly released poll from Impact Research indicates that Beth Davidson holds an early advantage in the Democratic primary for New York’s 17th Congressional District, leading the field in name recognition, favorability and initial vote support.

The new survey, based on the results of a live phone and text-to-web survey conducted from February 24-26, 2026 among Democratic primary voters, finds Davidson—an elected official in Rockland County—to be the best-known and most well-liked candidate in the race, while also establishing a base of support not yet matched by her opponents.

According to the memo, 41% of primary voters say they are familiar with Davidson, the highest name identification among the candidates tested. She also posts the strongest favorability rating at 33%, compared with 28% for Cait Conley, 25% for Peter Chatzky and 13% for Effie Phillips-Staley.

The memo attributes Davidson’s recognition in part to recent media coverage tied to her actions opposing federal immigration enforcement efforts in Rockland County, an issue described as a priority for many Democratic primary voters. Her advantage comes despite early spending on paid communications by Chatzky, the memo notes.

In a ballot test, Davidson leads with 23% support, followed by Conley at 17%, Chatzky at 8% and Phillips-Staley at 5%. Other candidates register minimal support, while 45% of voters remain undecided.

The memo describes Davidson as the only candidate with a “notable base of support” at this stage of the race, citing strength in Rockland County, where she serves in the county legislature, as well as broader appeal across the district.

When voters were presented with candidate biographies, Davidson’s profile received the strongest response. The memo reports that 84% of respondents said they would be likely to support her after hearing a brief description of her background and record, including her opposition to former President Donald Trump and immigration enforcement actions in the Hudson Valley.

The polling also tested potential vulnerabilities for other candidates. According to the memo, Conley faces “serious concerns” among Democratic primary voters related to her professional work with artificial intelligence companies, past criticisms of progressive groups and labor unions, her lack of residency history in the district, and what the memo characterizes as a limited track record supporting Democratic causes. These issues generated strong negative reactions, with up to 53% of voters describing them as “very serious concerns.”

The memo concludes that while a large share of the electorate remains undecided, Davidson enters the race with measurable advantages in visibility, favorability and early support.