By Jim Vespe
As the Democratic Party laments the loss of a Congressional seat in a district with thousands more voters registered as Democrats than Republicans, it should probably wonder if it succumbed to a failing displayed by the Republican party two years ago: Choosing star power…with baggage…over substance, without it.
In the Republican party’s case, it was nominating TV doctor Mehmet Oz and football star Herschel Walker for Senate seats in Pennsylvania and Georgia. In New York it may have been nominating Mondaire Jones for the Congressional seat held by Mike Lawler.
Yes, Mondaire Jones already served in Congress, achieved national recognition as its first member who was both Black and gay, and graduated from two of of the finest schools in America, Stanford University and Harvard Law School.
But as a Congressman he said an awful lot of stuff that many Hudson Valley residents might have thought was plain awful, was rated one of its least bipartisan members, and by seeking election from a New York city district two years ago, looked more like a sailor in search of a safe harbor than a candidate focused on serving the residents of the Hudson Valley.
Ironically, his elite education might actually have been a negative to voters who may more closely identify with candidates who earned degrees from schools that they or their family members may have attended: Like good old Fordham University, from where both George Latimer and his predecessor as Westchester County Executive, Rob Astorino, graduated, or another school in The Bronx, Manhattan College, which claims Mike Lawler as an alumnus.
While the Lawler campaign understandably played up Jones’ previous comments that could be construed as hostile to the police and detrimental to public safety, a George Latimer-type Democratic candidate would have had both a strong local record on bread-and-butter issues like schools, roads, and taxes, and no past statements that could incense or inflame potential voters; there would have been no Lawler commercials beginning with a Latimer-type being praised by Alessandria Ocasio-Cortez.
On the bright side, it became clear that, whoever was elected President, Westchester would be represented in Congress by members of each political party. And anyone who is familiar with George Latimer’s record of bipartisanship in the county legislature, the state senate, and as Westchester County Executive, knows he may give Mike Lawler a challenge for fourth most bipartisan member of Congress.
Indeed, the New York Yankees thrived in 1961 with the “M & M” team of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris; Westchester may also do well under the “L & L” team of Lawler and Latimer.
So while it’s a shame the Democratic Party couldn’t clone George Latimer and run that candidate in the 16th district, they shouldn’t give up hope of reclaiming the district in 2026:
When Mike Lawler runs for Governor.
You might nor have heard it here first, but you definitely aren’t hearing it here, last.
Editor’s Note: Politico has been reporting that Congressman Lawler is interested in running for Governor. In a recent interview with Assemblyman Matt Slater, Politico highlighted the possibility that Lawler would run for Governor and Slater would run for Lawler’s seat in Congress. “Listen, opportunities come, right?” Slater said.
The next race for NY Governor is in 2026. Lawler would have to not run for reelection to Congress in ’26 to run for Governor.
Some republicans that we talk to say that there are other NY Republicans who would be interested in running for Governor, and if Lawler runs for Governor, other republicans interested in running for his congressional seat in NY-17.
Republicans would almost certainly like Lawler to stay in Congress, and run for reelection in 2026, because of the extra-small majority the GOP will hold in the House.
