New Contenders Vie for Race to Represent RC’s 17th District in the US House of Representatives

By Sarah Morgenstern

The race to represent Rockland County’s District 17 in the US House of Representatives continues to heat up: with Assemblyman Mike Lawler (R-97th District), announcing that he is running for the seat, and progressive US Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-17), the incumbent, trying his luck in the heavily Orthodox Jewish 10th District, which spans Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Yesterday, Assemblyman Lawler appeared at three different Rockland County locations to collect the 1,000 signatures he needs to get his name on the ballot in advance of the June 10 deadline.

“We haven’t had a Republican represent Rockland County in Congress for decades, and with the Republicans poised to take back the majority, it’s critical that our voices our heard,” Assemblymember Lawler tweeted.

“Orthodox Jewish - and primarily Chassidic - voters can potentially swing the outcome of this seat: especially if thousands more local Orthodox Jews register to vote in time for the general election on Nov. 8," said Yossi Gestetner, a co-founder and director of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC). “In 2017, more than 16,000 Orthodox Jews voted in Rockland County, and in 2020 more than 18,000 voted, creating a formidable voice.”

Even before by Justice Patrick F. McAllister of State Supreme Court in Steuben County formally approved the newly districted maps on Friday night at midnight, the race for the congressional seat for the 17th district was showing signs of shake-ups to come.

Last week, US Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman who represents the 18th District, announced that he would run to represent the 17th district, now represented by US Rep. Jones.

By staying in the 17th District, Jones would have had to compete in a primary August 23 against US Rep. Maloney in the 17th District.

By moving the 16th District, Rockland County’s current rep. would have had to go head-to-head with his fellow progressive congressman, US Rep Jamaal Bowman (D) in this summer's primary.

Instead, Jones, decided to run in the city for seat recently vacated by US Rep. Jerry Nadler, represented District 10 since 2013, before he was recently redistricted to District 12, which is a newly created district that combines the Upper East and West sides.

Photo: Flickr