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Jonathan Gordon

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Welcome back to this special episode of Power and Politics Vote 2026. We're previewing the highly competitive Democratic primary in the race for New York's 17th congressional district. Let's continue sharing our interviews with the five Democrats in the running. Some Republicans have pushed to reopen the Indian Point nuclear power plant. We asked. Each of them where they stand on that issue. I oppose reopening Indian Point because we are a nation of immense innovation, and we need to invest in the technology of the future, not put our dollars in the technology of the past in the 20th century. It is so critical. For the sustainability of our planet, which means the sustainability of us, our jobs, our safety in our homes, that we advance groundbreaking technology. I oppose the reopening of Indian Point. It presents too many risks for our health and safety in this district when we have actual renewable and clean energy options that we can invest in here in this district that this administration. Has cut off funding for that is buying out contracts with wind farms so they don't have to actually install wind energy in this country. We can reverse that, go back to the investments that we did have during the Biden administration. I don't think it makes sense to reopen the plant, so I oppose that. I think, but we, we're speaking about something that's really, really important, and that's our energy, our strategic energy policy. And this needs to be approached as if it is a national security emergency because it is how we choose to go into the future, fossil fuels are dying. I oppose reopening the plant, and Dara, as someone who grew up swimming in the Hudson River right during the era of do we dredge or not dredge, we have seen firsthand here in the Hudson Valley how the poor decisions of corporations have literally imposed costs and pain on our families. We are facing an energy crisis right now, and I do believe we have to be investing. And additional forms of energy that help alleviate that now. I absolutely oppose reopening nuclear at Indian Point. And in fact, when we heard that Mike Lawler and Secretary Wright were even coming up there, jumped in my car with a bunch of activists that I've been working with over the past decade and said hell no to whatever they were planning to do there. You know, I've met teachers in Peekskill who remember the days of having permission slips and iodine pills for kids in their classrooms in case there was a meltdown. At Indian Point, and lest Mike Lawler try to convince us that would lower our energy costs, Holtech's own admission is, and the federal government's as well, that it would take 5 years to reopen Indian Point. Well, this is a role that requires balancing local concerns with global issues that have real impacts here on our families in the district. So we asked each candidate where they stood on Iran and how the US should approach the war going forward. I'm not against all wars, just dumb wars, and this was a dumb war. Yes, the Iranian regime is evil. Yes, it slaughtered 17,000 of its own people. Yes, they shout Death to America almost every day. But when we do a strike that kills the Ayatollah, only leaving his son in power who is more hardline and also his entire, his entire family has been killed as well, that is not the objective that we were seeking to go for when we did those strikes. They are an adversary and a serious adversary. Um, there, there aren't many other countries that have a strategic policy of death to America. They've, uh, they've killed, uh, American soldiers over the years and have been a source of terrorism. Having said that, if we think that this is a serious problem, then we should act accordingly and deliberately, um. When I served, I always felt whether I agreed or disagreed with the policy decisions. I always felt if I was asked to do my job, there was a deliberate process that the presidents went through. Going to the American people through Congress. Coordinating with our allies and that was missing from this. I do not waver in our responsibility to ensure the national security of the American people or our allies, but how this war was conducted by this administration, enabled by people like Mike Lawler in Congress without a plan, without clear objectives, without congressional use of without congressional authorization of military force. Without the support of the American people, how we went about this was wrong. I believe it's illegal. We went into it without proper, proper justification. We actually lost someone from Clarkstown, my hometown, within the 1st 10 days of the conflict, Major Sorley Davis, uh, and so this is real to us in Rockland County. It is an unjust war. It is not a war that Congress advanced. It takes funds from people who need it here and spends it. In a way that doesn't really advance anything about the safety and the economic security of the United States, Senate Democrats recently voted on restricting funding to Israel, and this district has one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel. So we asked each candidate where they stood and what factors would guide their decision if a similar vote came before them in Congress. They have a very serious obligation to conduct warfare in a proportionate manner, as do we. And um I don't think that withholding things um. Writ large is the way to go, I think having conversations. Serious conversations on the implications for both of our national security is really important. We have to get to a two-state solution where there are equal rights and safety and security on both sides. I do believe America has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the Israeli people and the sovereignty of the Israeli state. And I also believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that humanitarian aid and again safety for all is a priority when it comes to how we continue to protect Israel. Of course that's very important. It protects Americans as well, but I would want to see a plan, an actual plan before. Approve more funding. We have laws that guide how we spend our dollars in these issues, and we are not living up to those laws. We are creating exceptions for Israel in this moment. The United States needs to put pressure on the Netanyahu government. to back down from its ongoing assault in Gaza and breaking of the ceasefire, as well as to make the settlers in the West Bank stop their daily terrorist attacks on Palestinians. Now, I think this is actually a pro-Israel position, because the more that we empower the hardline fascist, messianic, expansionist elements in the current Israeli government, The more that country becomes less democratic and the more that country loses its support from the Western world.

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Welcome back to Power in Politics. This is our special Vote 2026 episode previewing the upcoming Democratic primary for New York's 17th congressional district. Yes, this is a local race with just an even broader importance. The winner of the June primary will immediately be thrust into the national spotlight. So this is a seat that the Democrats have had their eyes on for years, and this time around they're really hoping that they'll have the candidate to flip the seat blue. Yes, but party unity, it's always an interesting question, right, especially when you have this many candidates with such a wide range of opinions vying for the exact same opportunity. So Jonathan, we asked each of them if they would support the winner of the June Democratic primary if they're not the winning candidate, and this is what each of them had to say about that. Absolutely Of course I am a proud uh 10 year member of the Clarkstown Democratic Committee. I will be out there actively working for all of our Democratic candidates up and down the ticket just as I have been already. I will fully commit to the Democratic nominee in this race because we must take back Congress. We must take back our nation and exercise control over a rogue executive branch. So yes, whoever the winner is, they have my support. Yes, no matter who it is, no matter who it is, I will. Yes. Absolutely. I think we need, uh, I believe we need change and that change needs to start this year, uh, by restoring balance and accountability within the Congress, um, and then fighting, uh, to 2028 and beyond. All right, so we'll continue our coverage of these candidates and their campaigns, of course, leading up to primary election day on Tuesday, June 23rd, and also make sure you watch in the upcoming weeks for our full vote 2026 primary election show that preview show we will also share more of our conversations with these congressional candidates as well as others who are running for statewide and local offices as well. We're working on it as we speak, so that does it for this week's episode of Power and Politics, a vote 2026 Democratic primary election special for the 17th congressional district, only on News 12, where local elections lead to national shame. I'm Tara Rosenblum and I'm Jonathan Gordon. Thanks for joining us. More news, weather, and your hyperlocal headlines coming up right after the break.

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This week's guests include all five Democrats running to be the party's candidate in the race for New York's 17th Congressional District: John Cappello, Cait Conley, Beth Davidson, Effie Phillips-Staley and Mike Sacks.

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