Key facts
- Democrat Cait Conley leads Republican Mike Lawler 48% to 46% in New York's 17th Congressional District, per a PIX11/Emerson College/The Hill poll.
- 7% of likely voters in NY-17 are undecided, according to the poll.
- President Donald Trump's approval rating in the district is 43%, with 52% opposing his military actions in Iran.
- Governor Kathy Hochul's approval rating in the district is 40%, an improvement from two years ago.
- The poll was conducted September 27-29, 2026, with a margin of error of +/-4.9 percent.
Democrat Cait Conley holds a slight lead over incumbent Republican Mike Lawler in New York's 17th Congressional District, according to a new poll released by PIX11, Emerson College, and The Hill. The poll shows Conley with 48% of support compared to Lawler's 46%, with 7% of likely voters undecided.
Spencer Kimball of Emerson College Polling noted that Lawler previously held a five-point lead in the district, and his popularity has decreased while district issues have shifted. President Donald Trump's approval rating in the district has fallen to 43%, and 52% of voters oppose his military actions in Iran, which have had economic consequences.
Lawler's favorability has declined seven points since a similar poll two years ago. The survey also indicated that many voters are still learning about Conley. The economy was cited as the most important issue by 31% of likely voters, followed by threats to democracy.
In the race for New York governor, incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul has an approval rating of 40% among likely NY-17 voters, a significant improvement from two years ago. The poll was conducted from September 27-29, 2026, with a sample size of 400 likely voters and a credibility interval of +/-4.9 percent.