Despite Blackface Scandal, GOP Rep. Mike Lawler Holds Slim Lead Over Mondaire Jones In NY Congress Race

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., is seen in the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the week on June 28, 2024. | Source: Tom Williams / Getty

With election night less than a month away, the race for New York’s 17th congressional district is surprisingly tight. A few years ago, it would never have been on anyone’s Bingo card that in the traditionally blue state of New York, a Black Democrat and former New York congressman would trail even slightly behind a white Republican who recently had to apologize for wearing blackface in college — but here we are. 

According to polling data published by Emerson College, GOP Rep. Michael Lawler is holding onto a slim one-point lead over his opponent Mondaire Jones, who was the Democratic incumbent in 2022 until he was forced out on a technicality due to complex political maneuvering by white Democrat Sean Patrick Mahoney, who ultimately lost his race to Lawler, who was a little-known state assemblyman at the time. (We reported on that nonsensical debacle here in case you want to read up on it.)

Rep. Mondaire Jones speaks onstage during the Zioness Action Fund DNC Kickoff Party on August 20, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. | Source: Daniel Boczarski / Getty

From Emerson:

New Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill surveys of New York’s 17th and 18th congressional districts find close elections for the two US House seats. In the 17th district, 45% support incumbent Republican Congressman Michael Lawler, while 44% support former congressman Mondaire Jones. Three percent support Working Families Party Anthony Frascone, and 7% are undecided.

“Mondaire Jones is leading among young voters under 40, 51% to 40%, and those in their 40s, 45% to 41%, but trails among voters over 50, 49% to 40%,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. “The Working Families Party candidate also pulls 6% among voters under 40.”

Lawler has a 47% favorable rating in the district, while 40% have an unfavorable view of him. Thirteen percent are not familiar with him. Jones has a 40% favorable rating, while 40% have an unfavorable view of him. Twenty percent are not familiar with Jones.

As we previously reported, Lawler acknowledged last Thursday that, as a college student, he darkened his face as part of a Michael Jackson costume he wore for Halloween.

“Obviously I can’t change what happened 18 years ago,” Lawler, 38, said in a CNN interview. “But I certainly, with wisdom and age, understand that this is not something that I would do today, and certainly understand why people would be upset or offended by it. And for that, I’m sorry.”

For what it’s worth, Lawler doesn’t appear to be a MAGA Republican. As the New York Times noted in 2022, he “ran a somewhat more moderate campaign — distancing himself from the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, for instance, and rejecting false conspiracy theories about a Trump win in 2020 — apparently aiming to lure independents and conservative Democrats.”

It’s worth mentioning that, even this close to the election, a one-point lead doesn’t guarantee Lawler will be looking at a second term in his district seat. Jones might still be making a comeback. We’ll just have to wait until November and see.

SEE ALSO:

Oklahoma Pastor Ousted From Church Organization For Wearing Blackface And Impersonating ‘Indian’

Rhode Island Democrat Apologizes For Wearing Blackface While Cosplaying James Brown

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