GOP Rep. Mike Lawler claims victory over Dem Mondaire Jones in battle for battleground NY-17 House seat

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler declared triumph precocious Tuesday against Democrat Mondaire Jones, who mounted a bid to regain a spot successful New York’s 17th Congressional District.

Lawler led conscionable aft 11:35 p.m. pinch 55% of nan ballot compared to Jones’ 43%, and 75% of nan estimated full reported, according to nan Associated Press.

“What an absolute ass-kicking!” Lawler gleefully told a roomful of supporters astatine nan Paramount Country Club successful New City, NY. “Tonight nan Hudson Valley told Mondaire Jones to ‘Beat It!’”

He walked connected shape to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

The title pitting nan progressive Jones against nan blimpish Lawler was intimately watched nationally as polls showed a tight race, pinch nan imaginable equilibrium of powerfulness successful nan US House connected nan line.

The title betwixt Mondaire Jones (left) and Mike Lawler could thief determine power of nan House of Representatives. AP

Jones had antecedently held nan 17th District spot until 2022, erstwhile redistricting reshaped its boundaries and prompted him to equine an unsuccessful run for a spot covering Lower Manhattan and brownstone Brooklyn.

Lawler lambasted Jones, who decided to tally again for nan spot that spans each of Rockland and Putnam counties and parts of Westchester and Dutchess, arsenic a carpetbagger.

Lawler — who has nan support from virtually each national representing rule enforcement and emergency responders — vowed to conflict to little taxes and support erstwhile President Trump-era taxation cuts that are group to expire successful 2025.

The tight title pushed Jones to run arsenic a argumentation mean aft moving successful 2021 connected a progressive platform.

One independent elector — Maureen Henry, 58 — was offended by what she viewed arsenic Lawler’s antagonistic campaign, peculiarly his accusation that Jones wanted to defund nan police.

“Lawler was conscionable utilizing it to deceive group and operation group tension,” she said. “It conscionable seemed really slimy to me.”

Another elector successful Nyack was outraged complete a ungraded swirling astir Lawler’s aged Halloween costume, successful which he dressed arsenic Michael Jackson and darkened his face.

“Mike Lawler went successful blackface!” said Rhonda, 53.