County Legislator Catherine Parker ended her campaign for Congress in the 17th District less than three weeks before the democratic primary. Parker writes,” Back in March, I put my campaign to represent New York’s 17th Congressional District on hold as the full breadth of the COVID-19 pandemic became apparent. As you know, there are very few political races as expensive as a Congressional race, and I could just not justify asking donors for more money in the midst of a health and economic disaster. Fundraising would have to wait until April. Well, April became May, and now June 23 is a little over 3 weeks away.
“In the last 10 weeks I have been immersed in a crash course on how our world has and continues to change. As a County Legislator in Westchester’s 7th District my days are consumed with a procession of new and unique problems, some dealing with county finances and services, others revolving around the day-to-day troubles of constituents whose lives and businesses have been upended.
“As we approach the final month of the New York Primary campaign I have decided to make the March “pause” permanent. I am officially suspending my campaign operation effective today, May 29. I’m very proud of the race that our campaign has run to date and how the debates and forums have gone, but there is a lot of money already in this race and that money will soon take over your television sets. I understand that my name will still be on the ballot but I cannot justify the continued drain on my donors at this moment in time. They have been incredibly generous to me already.
“I will never stop being passionate about our need to confront the climate crisis for the sake of our children; about addressing systemic racism, and wealth inequity; about women’s healthcare and continuing to be a staunch advocate for a woman’s right to choose; improving opportunities for less well-off residents to have access to affordable housing and childcare so they can go to work and support their families; and will make fixing the damage done by President Trump and his enablers one of my highest priorities,” said Parker, who did not endorse a candidate upon her withdrawal.
Seven democrats remain in the race to replace Congresswoman Nita Lowey in the 17th District, which includes northern Westchester and all of Rockland County. They are: Assemblyman David Buchwald, Adam Schleifer, State Senator David Carlucci, Evelyn Farkas, Asha Castleberry-Hernandez, Alison Fine and Mondaire Jones.
