Michael Lawler (New York)
2023 - Present
2025
1
Michael Lawler (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing New York's 17th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Lawler (Republican Party, Conservative Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 17th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. The Republican and Conservative Party primaries for this office on June 25, 2024, were canceled.
Lawler was a district-level delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from New York. Lawler was one of 89 delegates from New York bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[1] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.
Lawler served as a New York state representative for the 97th district from 2021-2023.
Biography
Michael Lawler was born in Suffern, New York, and lives in Pearl River, New York. Lawler graduated from Suffern Senior High School in 2005. He earned a bachelor's degree from Manhattan College in 2009. Lawler's career experience includes working as a partner with Checkmate Strategies and the deputy town supervisor for the Orangetown, New York.[2][3][4]
2024 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the November 5, general election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Incumbent Rep. Michael Lawler (R/Conservative Party), Mondaire Jones (D), and Anthony Frascone (Working Families Party) are running in New York's 17th Congressional District election on November 5, 2024. Lawler and Jones lead in campaign finance, polls, endorsements, and media attention.
According to City & State New York’s Rebecca C. Lewis, this election “may offer Democrats one of their best opportunities to flip back. [Lawler] won the seat by the closest margin among fellow first-term Republicans in the state, and the demographics of the district are among the most favorable to Democrats.”[5] Additionally, this district is one of 19 Republican-held congressional districts up for election in 2024 that Joe Biden (D) won in the 2020 presidential election. Lewis wrote that Lawler “has a perfect electoral record of defeating incumbent Democrats, first flipping an Assembly seat in 2020 in his first run for office, and doing so again [in 2022] for his position in Congress.”[5]
In February 2024, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a new congressional map into law. According to Intelligencer’s Nia Prater, “Though Lawler’s seat is considered a top target for Democrats this cycle, the freshman Republican’s district avoided any changes that might’ve tipped the scales in favor of his Democratic opponent.”[6]
As of September 4, 2024, The Cook Political Report and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball both rated the general election Toss-up, Decision Desk HQ and The Hill rated it Lean Democratic, and Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales rated it Tilt Republican.
CNN’s Manu Raju wrote that the competitiveness of the district is affecting how the two candidates campaign: “Both sides are trying to tie the other to the most extreme elements of their parties. Indeed, Democrats are touting a ProPublica study showing that Lawler votes the same as the hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene roughly 81% of the time. Lawler pushed back, and pointed out that Jones voted with liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 97% of the time, calling him a ‘radical progressive’.”[7]
Lawler was first elected to represent the district in 2022 after he defeated then-incumbent Rep. Sean Maloney (D), 50.3% to 49.7%. Before he was elected to Congress, Lawler represented District 97 in the New York Assembly from 2021 to 2023. Lawler's professional experience includes working as a partner with Checkmate Strategies from 2018 to 2022 and serving as the deputy town supervisor for Orangetown, New York, from 2018 to 2020.[8]
Lawler’s priorities include affordability, border security and immigration reform, and addressing antisemitism.[9] Lawler’s website said, "The fact that Congressman Lawler, as a Republican, was able to win a district that President Biden won by 10 points in 2020 and is home to 70,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, is a testament to his bipartisan, pragmatic approach to governing.”[10]
Jones represented the district from 2021 to 2023.[11] Due to redistricting, Jones ran in 2022 to represent New York's 10th Congressional District. In the Democratic primary, Daniel Goldman (D) defeated Jones 25.9% to 18.1% in a field of 13 candidates. Jones’ professional experience includes working as a fellow with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy, as an associate with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, and as an attorney with the Westchester County Attorney’s Office.[11]
Jones’ priorities include working “to lower costs for Lower Hudson Valley residents, defend our democracy, raise wages, and stop Republicans from banning abortion.”[12] During his tenure in Congress, Jones' campaign website said he “earned a reputation as someone who stood up to the extremes in both parties to deliver results for the Lower Hudson Valley.”[12]
This race also takes place against the backdrop of Frascone winning the Working Families Party nomination. The party nominated Jones’ in his two previous congressional races. According to City & State New York’s Austin C. Jefferson, Jones “drew the ire of left-wing forces in New York when he endorsed [George Latimer] in June, which led the WFP to pull its support from Jones’ campaign.” Jefferson also wrote that Frascone’s nomination “could siphon some votes away from Jones” in the general election.[13]
Based on Q2 2024 reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Lawler raised $5.7 million and spent $1.8 million and Jones raised $5.5 million and spent $1.2 million. To review campaign finance figures in full detail, click here.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Lawler was assigned to the following committees:[Source]
- Committee on Financial Services
- Capital Markets
- Housing and Insurance
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Europa
- Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia
2021-2022
Lawler was assigned to the following committees:
- Aging Committee
- Banks Committee
- Education Committee
- Governmental Operations Committee
- Housing Committee
Key votes
- See also: Key votes
Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.
Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023
The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.
Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023 | ||||||||
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Vote | Bill and description | Status | ||||||
Yea |
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Passed (310-118) | ||||||
Yea |
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Passed (227-201) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (217-215) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (328-86) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (225-204) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (219-200) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (229-197) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (314-117) | ||||||
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) |
|
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (216-212) | ||||||
Nay |
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Passed (216-210) | ||||||
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) |
|
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) (220-209) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (221-212) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (311-114) |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2024
New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Republican primary)
New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Democratic primary)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House New York District 17
Incumbent Michael Lawler, Mondaire Jones, and Anthony Frascone are running in the general election for U.S. House New York District 17 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
Michael Lawler (R / Conservative Party) | ||
Mondaire Jones (D) | ||
Anthony Frascone (Working Families Party) |
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Mondaire Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 17.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Elizabeth Gereghty (D)
- MaryAnn Carr (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michael Lawler advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 17.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michael Lawler advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17.
Working Families Party primary election
Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17
Anthony Frascone defeated Mondaire Jones in the Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Anthony Frascone | 58.6 | 287 | |
Mondaire Jones | 40.2 | 197 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 1.2 | 6 |
Total votes: 490 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[27] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[28] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.
The links below show polls for this race aggregated by FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, where available. Click here to read about FiveThirtyEight's criteria for including polls in its aggregation.
Campaign finance
Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Lawler | Republican Party, Conservative Party | $5,736,580 | $1,844,585 | $3,930,456 | As of June 30, 2024 |
Mondaire Jones | Democratic Party | $5,540,543 | $1,299,352 | $4,312,537 | As of June 30, 2024 |
Anthony Frascone | Working Families Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[29][30]
If available, satellite spending reports by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and OpenSecrets.org are linked below. FEC links include totals from monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports. OpenSecrets.org compiles data from those reports as well as 24- and 48-hour reports from the FEC.[31]
Details about satellite spending of significant amounts and/or reported by media are included below those links. The amounts listed may not represent the total satellite spending in the election. To notify us of additional satellite spending, email us.
By candidate | By election |
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Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[32]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[33][34][35]
Race ratings: New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2024 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
September 10, 2024 | September 3, 2024 | August 27, 2024 | August 20, 2024 | ||||||
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Toss-up | |||||
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Tilt Republican | Tilt Republican | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. |
Endorsements
Lawler received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2022
U.S. House New York District 17
See also: New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House New York District 17
Michael Lawler defeated incumbent Sean Maloney in the general election for U.S. House New York District 17 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Michael Lawler (R / Conservative Party) | 50.3 | 143,550 | |
Sean Maloney (D / Working Families Party) | 49.7 | 141,730 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 150 |
Total votes: 285,430 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 17
Incumbent Sean Maloney defeated Alessandra Biaggi in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 17 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sean Maloney | 66.3 | 24,535 | |
Alessandra Biaggi | 33.1 | 12,266 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 203 |
Total votes: 37,004 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Parietti (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 17
Michael Lawler defeated William Faulkner, Charles Falciglia, Shoshana David, and Jack Schrepel in the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 17 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Michael Lawler | 74.7 | 12,317 | |
William Faulkner | 11.9 | 1,958 | ||
Charles Falciglia | 8.4 | 1,392 | ||
Shoshana David | 3.0 | 491 | ||
Jack Schrepel | 1.1 | 188 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 139 |
Total votes: 16,485 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Conservative Party primary election
Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17
Michael Lawler defeated William Faulkner in the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Michael Lawler | 87.0 | 1,078 | |
William Faulkner | 12.6 | 156 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 5 |
Total votes: 1,239 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jack Schrepel (Conservative Party)
Working Families Party primary election
The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sean Maloney advanced from the Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17.
New York State Assembly District 97
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2022
General election
General election for New York State Assembly District 97
John W. McGowan defeated Eudson Francois in the general election for New York State Assembly District 97 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | John W. McGowan (R / Conservative Party) | 66.9 | 24,259 | |
Eudson Francois (D) | 32.9 | 11,945 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 62 |
Total votes: 36,266 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Eudson Francois advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 97.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Aron Felberman (D)
- Bill Batson (D)
- Michael Klatsky (D)
Republican primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Lawler (R)
Conservative Party primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Lawler (Conservative Party)
2020
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2020
General election
General election for New York State Assembly District 97
Michael Lawler defeated incumbent Ellen Jaffee in the general election for New York State Assembly District 97 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Michael Lawler (R / Conservative Party / Independence Party / Serve America Movement Party) | 52.2 | 29,936 | |
Ellen Jaffee (D) | 47.7 | 27,359 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 35 |
Total votes: 57,330 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ellen Jaffee advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 97.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Michael Lawler advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Assembly District 97.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Michael Lawler advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Assembly District 97.
Independence Party primary election
The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Michael Lawler advanced from the Independence Party primary for New York State Assembly District 97.
Serve America Movement Party primary election
The Serve America Movement Party primary election was canceled. Michael Lawler advanced from the Serve America Movement Party primary for New York State Assembly District 97.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign advertisements
View more ads here:
2022
U.S. House New York District 17
Michael Lawler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Lawler's campaign website stated the following:
" |
AFFORDABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY Joe Biden and Sean Patrick Maloney’s reckless inflationary agenda is crushing senior citizens on fixed incomes, small businesses, working families, and young people just starting their careers. Biden’s and Maloney’s hidden tax has led to penny-pinching and long nights at kitchen tables across the Hudson Valley and elsewhere. As Congressman, Mike will make getting inflation under control a number one priority. In the State Assembly, Mike supported a gas tax holiday to reduce pain at the pump for millions of New York families, pushed legislation that would establish a tax credit to offset utility bill increases, created the Blown Tire Tax Credit to give drivers a $1,000 personal tax credit for damage sustained on state and local roads, supported eliminating state sales tax on everyday necessities such as housekeeping supplies, personal care products and prepared food, and introduced legislation to double the STAR Property Tax Relief benefit for seniors. Mike also delivered on his promise to create a true 10% property tax exemption for our volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, helping pass a statewide bill to provide real relief for those who serve our communities and keep us safe. He also led the charge on historic middle-class income tax cuts which will put billions of dollars back in the pockets of taxpayers across the Hudson Valley.
In the New York State Assembly, Mike fought hard against radical progressives demanding the defunding of the police. He introduced legislation to repeal the catastrophic cashless bail law that returns dangerous criminals right back on the streets, worked to restore judicial discretion in holding violent criminals in custody, and called out Democrats like Sean Patrick Maloney, who previously said passing cashless bail was his number one priority, for making our communities less safe. As Congressman, Mike will fight day and night to stop the radical agenda that is endangering communities all across the state. Mike is proud to have the strong support of law enforcement and our first responders, and he will always work to keep our communities safe.
While in the State Assembly, Mike has fought for more aid to schools across the Hudson Valley — and delivered. In just two years, he delivered hundreds of millions in state funding to improve education in the 17th District. In Congress, he’ll work to increase funding for our schools in the Hudson Valley, support school choice, and empower parents to push back against age-inappropriate curriculum within their school districts. We need to teach our country’s history – the good, the bad, and the ugly – but we must do so in a way that teaches our kids not to hate one another and to love our country.
As the husband of an immigrant from Eastern Europe, Mike Lawler understands the importance of legal immigration and the positive impact it has on our country. As a member of Congress, Mike will work to fix our broken immigration system, so that those seeking to come to America in search of a better life, economic opportunity, and freedom, can do so legally. However, Mike will fight tooth-and-nail to get our borders under control in order to halt the flow of illegal immigration. The current situation is a mockery to the rule of law and a genuine threat to national sovereignty and the health and well-being of our citizens. Unfortunately, Joe Biden, Sean Patrick Maloney and his colleagues in Washington have opened our borders to millions of illegal crossings, with more people pouring across the border every day. What’s worse, Maloney and his allies in Washington and Albany have enacted radical policies in which undocumented immigrants are given free iPhones, billions in cash assistance, and a free middle-of-the-night plane ride into New York airports, including Westchester County Airport and Stewart International. These undocumented immigrants are then secretively bussed into New York communities that are forced to accommodate them with housing, schooling, healthcare, and other services. Additionally, the failure of Biden and Maloney’s open border policy has been a dramatic increase in dangerous and illegal fentanyl pouring across the border and into our communities in New York and across the country. This has only exacerbated the existing heroin and addiction crises gripping towns and counties across the Hudson Valley. It must stop.
In the State Assembly, Mike supported dozens of pieces of legislation that improved the quality of our drinking water, cracked down on pollutants and contaminants, and protected our parks and open spaces. In Congress, Mike will work to protect the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley while ensuring energy costs don’t spiral out of control due to a radical climate agenda. As a strong proponent of expanded domestic energy production, including clean natural gas, Mike believes America must pursue an “all-of-the-above” energy policy that strikes a balance between a push for renewable and alternative energies, with the reality that pie-in-the-sky promises to end the use of all fossil fuels within the next 10-15 years threaten to drive energy costs even higher, representing a regressive tax on those who can least afford it at a time when inflation is surging to its highest levels in 40 years.
Recent federal government reports that Social Security’s combined trust funds won’t be able to pay full benefits to recipients in 2035 is alarming, and represents a total failure of career politicians like Sean Patrick Maloney and Joe Biden. Moreover, Medicare is also facing long-term financing shortfalls and will grow faster than the nation’s GDP through the mid-2030s. Mike Lawler understands that, for tens of thousands of his constituents, Social Security and Medicare are the difference between getting by and literally falling into poverty. Mike will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare and work with people of goodwill from both parties to develop a long term plan to keep these programs solvent and functioning.
Mike will be a staunch ally for Veterans in Congress, and he’ll fight for increased funding for V.A. hospitals and Veterans Organizations across New York. As a member of the State Assembly, Mike fought to fully fund the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer program in the state budget; voted to create the state department of Veterans Services; and introduced legislation to create a $100 million fund to support Veterans Organizations. When their country needed them, our men and women in uniform put aside everything for this nation. Many have been critically wounded. Now that they’re back home, they deserve the best available care. Period.
Mike Lawler believes in “Peace through Strength” because it has protected Americans from danger since the end of World War II. That means ensuring our military is the best-funded, equipped, and trained in the entire world. Bar none. There are bad actors around the globe eagerly watching for signs of weakness in our elected leadership. Unfortunately, that has been the case during the Biden Administration. Their catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal was an embarrassment to the country and an insult to all those who had served and sacrificed there, including the 13 soldiers who perished in a suicide attack at the Kabul Airport. Predictably, Sean Patrick Maloney put partisan politics ahead of what is right, and defended President Biden’s handling of the situation. In regard to the war in Ukraine and hostile actions by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, Mike will advocate for strong sanctions and resolute cooperation with our NATO allies in pushing back against aggression in all its forms.
Mike firmly believes that as a society, we have an obligation to provide for our most vulnerable populations, especially those in our communities who are underserved or in need of critical care. Whether one identifies as having a disability, is a senior or a veteran, or one of our low-income EBT/SNAP families who are struggling to provide for their children during these difficult economic times, Mike believes we must expand economic, healthcare, educational, and recreational opportunities for those individuals and their families. Since the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted into law in 1990 under President George H.W. Bush, we have seen significant progress towards ending discrimination against those with disabilities across the country. However, there is still more work to be done to ensure the nearly 62 million Americans living with a disability, including over 1 million New Yorkers, are treated with dignity, respect, and afforded the same opportunities as everyone else. As a first-term legislator, Mike led the charge to stop the closure of the Rockland Psychiatric Center, which is the only such facility between the Bronx and Utica, providing a wide range of mental health services to patients all across the Hudson Valley. Mike also secured record investments for the I/DD community and has worked in close coordination with I/DD programs in Rockland County and across the Hudson Valley to ensure that their needs have been met. In addition, Mike fought to increase salaries for those providing these critical services to ensure the retention of our workforce. Working with the Town of Orangetown and Supervisor Teresa Kenny, Mike helped secure critical funds to build an all-inclusive playground and a splash pad to ensure that children of all abilities could enjoy themselves and have fun. An initiative that Mike would like to champion nationwide. As a member of Congress, Mike will be a true advocate for the disabled, fighting for all those with different abilities who are wishing to join the workforce, while also focusing on accessible, long term, and affordable housing, healthcare, ADA compliance, and much more. The Seniors of the Hudson Valley will have a resilient and resourceful friend with Mike in Congress who will never tire when asked to step up and to protect their right to a happy, secure, safe, and comfortable retirement. Finally, Mike believes that we must do everything possible to empower the low income, and to provide them with the tools that they need to succeed, while supporting the federal safety net called EBT/ SNAP food stamps. In addition, Mike supports the federal libraries Museums For All EBT/ SNAP policy which allows all low income parents to educate their children in the “Arts & Culture”, with over 900 cultural institutions currently in agreement nationwide, including 70 in New York.[36] |
” |
—Mike Lawler's campaign website (2022)[37] |
New York State Assembly District 97
Michael Lawler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Michael Lawler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lawler's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Collapse all
|Mike Lawler is a lifelong Rockland County resident and graduate of Suffern High School. In 2009, Mike earned a degree in Business Administration, with a double major in Accounting and Finance, from Manhattan College, where he was named the Valedictorian of his graduating class.
Mike currently serves as Deputy Town Supervisor in Orangetown under Supervisor Teresa Kenny and previously worked in the Westchester County Executive's Office as an advisor to Rob Astorino, where he dealt with issues ranging from the county budget to public policy and community outreach initiatives. In addition, Mike previously served as Executive Director of the State Republican Party, helping elect candidates to federal, state, and local office.
Mike is also a successful small businessman who founded his own government affairs and public relations firm.
Mike and his wife Doina live in Pearl River, NY.
- Mike will reduce our tax burden by fixing the unfair state school-aid formula and introduce legislation that requires the state fully pay for and run our Medicaid program.
- Mike believes education is a fundamental right and that every child should have a quality, affordable education. He'll fight to increase funding, improve standards, and promote choice.
- Mike will promote our educated workforce, proximity to the city, and cost effective commercial properties to attract jobs and investment in Rockland County.
Sadly, New York has become the toughest state in America in which to live, work, and raise a family. And with the complete, one-party takeover of the State Legislature in Albany, it's only getting worse.
We are the highest taxed state in America and Rockland County pays the second highest property taxes in the nation. It's outrageous and it has to stop.
As our Assemblyman, Mike will be an independent voice for Rockland County, fighting every day on behalf of our families and working to address the issues that matter most.
AFFORDABILITY
Mike will reduce our tax burden by fixing the unfair state school-aid formula and introduce legislation that requires the state fully pay for and run our Medicaid program.
EDUCATION
Mike believes education is a fundamental right and that every child should have a quality, affordable education. He'll fight to increase funding and improve standards.
JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY
Mike will promote our educated workforce, proximity to the city, and cost effective commercial properties to attract jobs and investment in Rockland County.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Mike will scrap the dangerous "bail reform law" by ensuring dangerous criminals stay behind bars and allowing greater judicial discretion when administering bail.
RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT
Mike will preserve open space; protect our natural resources; invest in infrastructure; and empower municipalities to enforce their zoning laws and codes.
Throughout my life, I've always looked up to and turned to my parents and their example. I was fortunate to have two loving parents, who dedicated themselves to my brother and I. My parents provided my brother and I the necessary tools to identify our God given talents and skills and put them to good use. They allowed us to grow and to flourish, giving us the opportunity to be who we are as individuals. They never discouraged us from engaging in childhood fantasies, rather they dared us to dream heroic dreams. They never made us afraid of failure, rather they taught us how to turn our mistakes into future success. And they never expressed a sense of disappointment in our choices, rather they offered us the greatest gift we could ever receive - their unconditional love. It's an example I try to use throughout my life, both personal and professional.
In terms of politics and public life, I've long admired President Ronald Reagan. He believed in the greatness of America and inspired millions of Americans to believe in our country and each other. He was an aspirational leader, who used humor, compassion, and principles to lead our country. As an elected official, I would seek to follow his lead and work to find areas of agreement, stay positive, and serve a cause greater than my own self-interest.
Finally, I'm inspired every day by my wife - who came to this country by herself in search of opportunity and a better life. She is courageous, strong, smart, and has worked hard to attain her success. She is reflective of the greatness of our country and the hopes of our citizens.
I believe two of my strongest qualities are that I am empathetic and I listen to what people are saying. I have always believed that just because you have different political views does not mean that you cannot be friends or find areas of commonality and agreement. I believe that no one is going to agree with another person 100% of the time, because we all come from different backgrounds, have had different life experiences, and deal with different challenges and struggles. The most important thing any elected official can do, is to understand those differences, respect them, and work to find areas of agreement. Too often, our political discourse has devolved into the questioning of one's motives or character and casting aspersions on the other person, rather than trying to understand where they are coming from and why. I believe the most effective way to find compromise, is to listen and to acknowledge the other person's point of view. Anything less will lead to gridlock, anger, and resentment.
Serving in elected office means serving the people you are elected to represent, regardless of party. As a member of the Assembly, my job will be to represent the views and interests of my constituents, and to advocate on their behalf, propose and pass legislation that directly impact my district, and work with the local elected officials in my community to be their voice in Albany. On a macro scale, my job will to fight for and advocate for policies and legislation that make New York State more affordable, make it easier to own and operate a business, and allow our seniors to afford to retire here. Finally, constituent services are most critical, and the job of any elected official is to help our residents navigate through the complex bureaucracy that is state and local government. I will always work to ensure we get answers and solutions for our residents and serve their needs as best I can.
I have two favorite book, "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and "The Shack" by William Young. Both books speak to the unfortunate, ugly nature of human behavior at times, and ultimate redemption. Life is difficult, and it has its unique challenges for everyone, but I do believe, as President Reagan once said, "I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life."
I believe it is helpful to have an understanding of government and politics, but more importantly, I believe it's important to have real world experience, whether working in the private sector or owning your own business. Too often, legislators pass laws that impact industries and businesses of which they have no knowledge or expertise. I think it is important to have a diverse legislature that is comprised of professionals, including those who have worked in government, and can apply those first hand experiences to the legislative process.
The greatest challenge for New York State will be affordability and the financial fallout from COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, we were consistently ranked as the highest taxed state in America, with the highest cost of living, highest cost of doing business, and worst place to retire. Over the last decade, over 1 million New Yorkers have moved to other, more affordable states. As a result of years of financial mismanagement, overspending, and anti-business and anti-growth policies being implemented, New York is facing a catastrophic budget deficit - that will require draconian budget cuts, reductions in service, and massive tax hikes. Furthermore, with the changes in technology, industries like the financial sector can operate in other states. As a result, more and more New Yorkers will flee for greener pastures.
In order to address this, we will need to prioritize essential programs, rein-in out of control spending and unnecessary programs, and implement pro-growth policies to bring businesses and manufacturing back to New York State. It will require a whole-sale shift from the policies of the past. It can be done, if we are willing to make difficult decisions and take on the dogmatic approach of the past.
I would like to serve on the following committees: Ways & Means; Education; Energy; Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Health; Local Government; Real Property Taxation; Small Businesses; Transportation; and Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
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Campaign finance summary
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Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Delegate rules
At-large delegates from New York to the Republican National Convention were selected by the New York Republican State Committee and were awarded to presidential candidates based on the results of the New York Republican primary election on April 19, 2016. District-level delegates were elected in the state primary election. All New York delegates were bound on the first round of voting at the convention.
New York primary results
- See also: Presidential election in New York, 2016
New York Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
Donald Trump | 59.2% | 554,522 | 89 | |
John Kasich | 24.7% | 231,166 | 6 | |
Ted Cruz | 14.5% | 136,083 | 0 | |
Blank or void | 1.6% | 14,756 | 0 | |
Totals | 936,527 | 95 | ||
Source: The New York Times and New York State Board of Elections |
Delegate allocation
New York had 95 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 81 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's 27 congressional districts). New York's district delegates were allocated on a proportional basis; a candidate had to win at least 20 percent of the vote in a district in order to be eligible to receive a share of that district's delegates. The first place finisher in a district received two of that district's delegates and the second place finisher received one delegate. If a candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in a district, he or she received all of that district's delegates.[38][39]
Of the remaining 14 delegates, 11 served at large. At-large delegates were allocated on a proportional basis; a candidate had to win at least 20 percent of the statewide vote in order to be eligible to receive a share of the state's at-large delegates. If a candidate won more than 50 percent of the statewide vote, he or she received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention.[38][39]
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New York scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
In 2023, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 4 to June 21.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to the fire service.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their support of bills related to the environment, environmental justice, public health, and transportation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2022
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 5 to June 4.
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2021
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 6 to June 10.
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See also
2024 Elections
- Republican National Convention, 2016
- 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules
- RNC delegate guidelines from New York, 2016
- Republican delegate rules by state, 2016
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
External links
Candidate U.S. House New York District 17 |
Officeholder U.S. House New York District 17 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Newsday, "Here are the New York State GOP delegates," May 20, 2016
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 16, 2020
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Mike Lawler," accessed November 22, 2022
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "Mike Lawler - Biography," accessed November 22, 2022
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 City & State New York, "Mike Lawler doesn’t plan to shut up," August 21, 2023
- ↑ Intelligencer, "The Winners and Losers From New York’s New Congressional Map," February 27, 2024
- ↑ CNN, "‘People were horrified’: Inside the battle to flip a New York seat key to House GOP majority," August 11, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Michael Lawler," accessed August 5, 2024
- ↑ City & State New York, "Lawler, fresh off his bipartisan victories, visits a redder part of his district," May 20, 2024
- ↑ Michael Lawler campaign website, "Meet Mike," accessed August 5, 2024
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 LinkedIn, "Mondaire Jones, accessed August 5, 2024
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Mondaire Jones campaign website, "About Mondaire," accessed August 5, 2024
- ↑ City & State New York, "Where do progressives go from here?" July 8, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.185 - To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2811 - Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Con.Res.9 - Denouncing the horrors of socialism." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - Lower Energy Costs Act," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.30 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to 'Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights'." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.7 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3746 - Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "Roll Call 20," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.757 - Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "Roll Call 527," accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.757 - Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.878 - Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ Amee LaTour, Email correspondence with the Center for Responsive Politics, August 5, 2022
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Mike Lawler for Congress, “Issues,” accessed September 30, 2022
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Mondaire Jones (D) |
U.S. House New York District 17 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Preceded by Ellen Jaffee (D) |
New York State Assembly District 97 2021-2023 |
Succeeded by John W. McGowan (R) |