Mike Lawler Gets Good Polling News In Blue-State Race That Could Help GOP Maintain House Majority

(DCNF) 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.

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