N.Y. Rep. Mike Lawler declares victory over Dem challenger Mondaire Jones in battleground race

Republican New York Congressman Mike Lawler declared triumph precocious Tuesday implicit his Democratic challenger, Mondaire Jones, giving the GOP anticipation it could support power of the U.S. House of Representatives adjacent year.

Lawler, a mean Republican archetypal elected successful 2022 to correspond his Rockland and Putnam Counties-based 17th district, took the triumph thigh arsenic uncertified ballot returns showed him beating Jones by much than 30,000 votes with astir ballots counted.

“Folks, contiguous the Hudson Valley told Mondaire Jones to bushed it!” Lawler said to cheers astatine his predetermination nighttime enactment successful New City.

The Associated Press had not yet called the contention arsenic of midnight Tuesday.

Lawler’s was 1 of six House races successful New York that person been seen arsenic among the astir competitory successful the state successful this year’s legislature elections. All six races person played retired successful suburbs to the northbound and eastbound of New York City.

The GOP presently controls the House by a slim, eight-seat margin. Due to that math, the typically bluish Empire State has emerged arsenic a legislature battleground this clip around, with some parties seeing the six competitory New York races arsenic cardinal to securing a House majority.

It was excessively aboriginal to archer precocious Tuesday which enactment volition gain a bulk successful the 435-seat House, arsenic ballots continued to beryllium tallied successful races crossed the country.

The conflict betwixt Lawler and Jones has centered astir issues similar the economy, immigration, termination and nationalist safety.

Lawler, a mean Republican who has openly criticized erstwhile President Donald Trump astatine times, has attempted to overgarment Jones, a erstwhile congressman, arsenic being excessively near wing, pointing to remarks helium made during his past House run successful 2020 astir the request to chopped constabulary funding.

After introducing himself successful 2020 arsenic a rising progressive star, Jones has rebranded himself up of this year’s election, adopting much centrist policies and rhetoric, an about-face that has angered immoderate connected the party’s left.

On the run trail, Jones argued Lawler is the 1 who’s excessively utmost for the 17th district, noting helium endorsed Trump and mostly votes with his party, including connected termination matters.

Originally Published: November 6, 2024 astatine 12:10 AM EST