Falco Backs Conley in Race for New York's 17th

Actor Edie Falco released an election-eve video urging voters in the 17th Congressional District to support Democrat Cait Conley.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Falco Backs Conley in Race for New York's 17th

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Edie Falco starred in a selfie video released on election eve urging voters in New York's 17th Congressional District to back Democratic challenger Cait Conley, though she did not name Conley in the video. The video was released by Plus-One for America, a community organizing group based in the district.

Why it matters

The 17th district flipped from blue to red when Republican Mike Lawler won in 2022, and it has more registered Democrats than Republicans, making the race a focus for both parties. The endorsement drew angry criticism from the Italian American Civil Rights League.

The 17th district has more registered Democrats than Republicans, yet Republican Mike Lawler won it in 2022, flipping it from blue to red. The race outcome and the endorsement's effect on turnout were not reported.

The players

Edie Falco

Edie Falco is an actor best known for playing Carmela Soprano on HBO's The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007.

Cait Conley

Cait Conley is a former Army officer who led election security efforts for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during the 2024 election.

Mike Lawler

Mike Lawler is a Republican congressman who flipped New York's 17th district from blue to red in 2022.

Italian American Civil Rights League

The Italian American Civil Rights League is an advocacy group that issued an angry reply to Falco's endorsement.

The details

In the video, Falco says the district can help flip the House from red to blue and that the country is in great danger of losing its democracy. Falco has a home in Pound Ridge in Westchester County, within the district, and the video was distributed by Plus-One for America.

2022: Mike Lawler flipped the 17th district from blue to red.
July: Falco testified before the New York City Council in favor of a bill phasing out horse-drawn carriages.
Last month: The New York City Council passed the horse-drawn carriage bill.
November 3, 2026: Falco released the endorsement video on election eve.

Political Context

Mike Lawler flipped New York's 17th district from blue to red in 2022, and the district still has more registered Democrats than Republicans. The Falco endorsement is a Democratic effort to reclaim that seat for Cait Conley.

Residents of the 17th district will decide the seat's representation through their votes in this race. The endorsement is one of several campaign signals voters can weigh before casting a ballot.

The takeaway

Campaign endorsements from celebrities can draw attention to close races, but voters should weigh candidates' positions directly. The 17th district's shifting history shows how narrowly partisan control of a seat can change.