Rockland County Democrats have a new leader for their divided party after the current chairman withdrew his name from an impending vote and committee members elected his challenger, Orangetown attorney James Riley.
The biennial vote for officers of the Rockland County Democratic Committee took place on Monday night, Oct. 5, in Hillburn, with about 270 members from one of the party's two factions in attendance. That put the vote in the hands of Democrats from Orangetown, Clarkstown and Stony Point. Members from Ramapo and Haverstraw stayed home.
Laurence Toole, who has led the committee for two years, opened the meeting and announced he was removing himself from consideration, leaving Riley as the uncontested candidate. Toole had been elected chairman
by the Ramapo-Haverstraw side in 2024 after that faction won a court fight against the other over which members were eligible to vote.
There was no such friction this time. The vote came at a critical time for the party, with a looming battle between Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley for a district in which Rockland voters make up 40% of the electorate.
In a statement to the USA TODAY Network after the vote, Riley said the party can now focus on electing Conley to help "neutralize the on-going ravages of the Trump administration as to every conceivable federal program." The Lawler-Conley contest for New York's 17th Congressional District is seen as a toss up that will help decide which party controls the House for President Donald Trump's last two years in office.
"With renewed excitement and determination we will soon elect Cait Conley to Congress in NY-17 in one of the most important elections in the history of this nation and this county," Riley said.
Toole did not respond to requests for comment about the vote, which took place at the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community Center.
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland Democrats elect new leader amid NY-17 House race
