From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Pro-Israel politicians sweep New York’s swing districts
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler retains his seat in New York’s 17th Congressional District in a race that saw both candidates vie for the area’s large Jewish vote and spar over support for Israel.
The race was one of several swing districts in New York State that could sway control of the House.
Lawler defeats Democratic challenger Mondaire Jones in the district, which covers territory north of New York City in Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties. Lawler won around 57 percent of the vote, 16 points ahead of Jones, and is projected to win in every county in the district.
Lawler has forged close ties with the approximately 30,000 Orthodox Jewish voters in his district, frequently visiting their communities and meeting with their leading rabbis, at one point along with House Speaker Mike Johnson. He has also been vocally supportive of Israel and measures to combat antisemitism, advancing some via bipartisan legislation.
In the neighboring 18th District, Democrat Pat Ryan defeats Republican challenger Alison Esposito with around 56% of the vote. The district north of New York City covers Orange County and parts of Dutchess and Ulster Counties, and includes the Hudson Valley cities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh and Kingston.
During the campaign, Ryan drew fire from some progressives for not demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with a small number of activists protesting at his offices and at public events. Ryan took a position more closely aligned with Israel, saying in January that he would support a ceasefire if Hamas released Israeli hostages and surrendered.
In the 19th Congressional District, covering a swath of New York from the Massachusetts border to the Southern Tier, Democrat Josh Riley narrowly defeats incumbent Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro, securing slightly more than 50% of the vote. The two were largely aligned in their stance toward Israel and the Middle East conflict, advocating for the end of Hamas rule in Gaza and the return of the hostages. Both attended pro-Israel events during the campaign.
Other Jewish and pro-Israel candidates in blue areas of New York defeated their Republican rivals as expected.
In Manhattan’s 12th District, covering the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, Rep. Jerrold Nadler trounced Republican Michael K. Zumbluskas, winning around 80% of the vote.
Pro-Israel stalwart Rep. Ritchie Torres kept his seat in the 15th Congressional District in the Bronx, winning around 76% of the vote. Latimer won his election as expected, cruising to victory over Republican Miriam Flisser in the deep blue 16th District in the Bronx and Westchester.
Tom Suozzi, a pro-Israel Democrat in Long Island and Queens’ 3rd Congressional District, defeated Republican Michael LiPetri, winning around 51% of the vote. Suozzi won a closely watched race earlier this year in the district against Israeli-American Mazi Pilip, after George Santos was expelled from Congress for massive lies about his life and background.
