Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler’s race to be reelected in the 17th Congressional District has been shifted to “lean Republican,” according to a Cook Political Report published Friday.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report reclassified New York’s 17th Congressional District race as it now favors incumbent Lawler in a district that could determine who wins the House majority in November. Lawler, whose 2022 victory was crucial in the GOP’s winning the House majority in 2022, holds a slight edge over challenger former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones.
“Despite the partisan lean of the district, Lawler maintains a slight lead over former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones, who held a previous version of this seat for a single term before redistricting scrambled his reelection prospects,” Cook Political’s Erin Covey wrote.
Lawler recently apologized for an incident in 2006 where he dressed in blackface as Michael Jackson at a college party, Cook Political stated
Jones also faced criticism from some progressives for supporting George Latimer against New York Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a move that caused internal setbacks, Cook Political reported. Despite this, Jones outperformed all other Democratic contenders in New York by raising over $6.4 million, significantly more than Lawler’s nearly $3.3 million.
The race has also attracted significant attention from national political organizations, with the Congressional Leadership Fund and the House Majority PAC pouring $8 million and $6.4 million into supporting GOP and Democratic candidates, respectively, according to Cook Political.
