The campaign for Effie Phillips-Staley announced a partnership with the multi-platinum alternative rock band CAKE. On the opening weekend of their new tour the band will host an exclusive performance at a fundraiser to fuel Phillips-Staley’s mission to take back New York’s 17th Congressional District for Democrats in 2026. The performance will occur in Sacramento California on March 22.
Effie Phillips-Staley—a Village Trustee of Tarrytown, New York, a lifelong social justice advocate, and Sacramento native—is running a grassroots, people-powered campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Mike Lawler. Known for their subversively political lyrics and decades of environmental activism, CAKE’s collaboration with Phillips-Staley highlights a shared commitment to challenging the status quo and refusing corporate influence.
“I am honored to have the support of a band that has never been afraid to speak truth to power,” said Effie Phillips-Staley. “In NY-17, we are facing one of the most expensive and competitive races in the country. This sound-check party is about more than great music; it’s about building a movement of Americans who are ready to take this congressional seat back from corporate interests.”
“We don’t have the luxury of staying quiet anymore while the environment and the working class are treated as afterthoughts,” said John McCrea, lead singer of CAKE. “Effie understands that you can’t have a working democracy without clean air, clean water, and a system where the people at the top actually contribute their fair share. That’s why we’re standing with her.”
New York’s 17th District encompasses parts of four suburban counties north of New York City.. Lawler is among the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress and Phillips-Staley is committed to taking the seat from MAGA control and helping Democrats regain control of Congress.
The Event: Attendees will get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the band’s process before the show, with opportunities for photos with CAKE for high-level “Fuel the Fight” supporters. The band will also give a 30 minute performance for attendees. To ensure the event is accessible to all, the campaign is offering a limited number of sliding-scale tickets.
Effie Phillips-Staley’s “Suburban Progress” Platform Includes:
● Affordable Housing: A plan to build 5 million new units across the US to meet the demand for housing and lower the cost of living.
● Medicare for All: Replacing insurance company red tape with guaranteed, zero-cost healthcare.
● Universal Childcare: Tuition-free, full-day care for children from birth to Kindergarten.
● Abolish ICE: And replace it with a transparent, civilian-led system that honors the American tradition of asylum and prioritizes human rights, families, and community safety over mass incarceration.
● Climate Justice: Demanding immediate investment in green infrastructure and a just transition for workers.
● Fair Tax Reform: By taxing Wall Street trades and ultra-millionaire fortunes, we’re making the top 1% finally pay their share to fund your future.
Event Details:
● What: CAKE Exclusive Performance Supporting Effie for Congress
● When: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3PM
● Where: Channel 24, Sacramento, CA
● Tickets: Available at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/cakeforeffie on a sliding scale while they last
To learn more about the campaign or to join the movement, visit effieforcongress.com.
