Accusations of lies and radicalism are punctuating a bruising congressional race outside of New York City that could determine control of the U.S. House.
In the lower Hudson Valley, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler is looking to block a comeback bid from former Rep. Mondaire Jones, a Democrat, in New York’s 17th Congressional District.
The district stretches from Rockland County to Dutchess County. Millions of dollars have flooded into the race.
Democrat Joe Biden won the district by roughly 10 points in 2020, while Republican Lee Zeldin carried the district in the governor’s race two years later.
On the Trail
On the campaign trail in late October, Lawler drew the attention of an unexpected demographic: kids too young to cast a vote.
At a Trunk-or-Treat event in Clarkstown, children in Halloween costumes flocked to him, asking for a selfie. At a Friday night football game in nearby Suffern, high schoolers did the same.
“I’ve never seen a congressman get as much attention as he does,” said Tal Hahn of Valley Cottage, who was at the game to watch his child play. He praised Lawler and “his policies.”
All of that attention is a reminder of the tidal wave of political advertising washing over voters in the New York City suburbs. Some of those ads have popped up on YouTube.
Recounting his conversations with the kids, Lawler said, “They're telling me, ‘Oh, I'm talking to my dad. I saw the ad and I talked to my dad.’ Or, ‘I talked to my mom about it.’”
Lawler’s opponent, Jones, received a warm reception when he addressed a gathering of the New York State United Teachers in Suffern.
“There’s no one I’d rather be in this fight with than all of you. You remind me of the American dream,” he told the group of retired teachers.
One of those retirees, Marta Brooks of Peekskill, praised Jones as “concerned that children have the resources that they need, families have the resources they need.”
“I just see Lawler as cutting anywhere he can to cut taxes,” she told Spectrum News.
On The Issues
Both candidates say voters rank the economy and affordability as their top issues.
On this, Jones touts his vote while in Congress for the Inflation Reduction Act - Democrats’ premier climate and healthcare law from the last Congress. The law included provisions aimed at lowering drug costs, particularly for those on Medicare.
Jones, argued, they have to go further. “We have to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, hearing, and long term care. We have to make childcare affordable,” he said. Also, he said, “the SALT deduction needs to be restored fully.”
Lawler blames the Biden administration for higher costs, and says there is work to do.
“We need to increase domestic production of energy, which will help reduce the cost of construction, manufacturing, transportation,” he said. He listed “lifting the cap on SALT” as his “number one priority.”
Looking to appeal to this battleground district, both candidates are casting themselves as pragmatic moderates, while describing their opponents as radical.
Lawler paints Jones as a ‘Squad’-like progressive.
“This is not someone who is serious about working across the aisle or moderating himself … I've actually passed legislation in a divided Congress,” he said. “When I agree with my party, I say it. When I disagree, I say it.”
Jones is working to tie his opponent to the leader of the Republican party, former President Donald Trump.
“People have to understand that when they vote for Mike Lawler, they are voting for a Republican Congress that will do the bidding of Donald Trump,” Jones said. “He’s not going to stand up to Donald Trump - I will.”
Additional Factors
The contest for New York’s 17th district has been the subject of unique twists.
Earlier this month, The New York Times published a photo of Lawler wearing blackface as part of a Michael Jackson Halloween costume in 2006. The congressman has said he is sorry.
Democrats, meanwhile, are warning of a potential third-party spoiler in the contest. Over the summer, Jones lost the Working Families Party primary to a former registered Republican.
In a tight race, those votes could be critical.