Mondaire Jones Declares Victory In Democratic Congressional Race

SOUTH NYACK, NY — Rockland County resident Mondaire Jones declared victory in the race to be the Democratic nominee for the 17th Congressional District. The Associate Press called the race in Jones' favor Tuesday.

In a news release, Jones, 33, of South Nyack, said he was honored to announce he has secured the nomination to replace outgoing Rep. Nita Lowey, who said she was retiring at the end of this year.

"From the start, I have said that I am running for Congress because, for me, policy is personal," he said. "We get better policy outcomes when our elected officials have lived experiences that give them a personal understanding of the policies being debated in the corridors of power, and a sense of urgency to implement big, structural improvements."

Jones said he received more than 32,000 votes — or more than 42 percent of the ballots cast.

He said that, growing up poor, black and gay, he never imagined someone like him could run for Congress, let alone win.

Jones is a former litigator in the Westchester County Law Department and former Department of Justice staffer during the Obama administration. He has degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Law School.

He will be facing Republican Maureen McArdle Schulman, 61, of Shrub Oak, on the ballot in November.

The New York Working Families Party State Director Sochie Nnaemeka called Jones' victory "yet another signal that New York's multiracial progressive movement is growing — and here to stay.

"We were proud to stand with Mondaire on the campaign trail, and we look forward to supporting this Working Families Party champion as he brings his transformative vision to Washington," she said. "From protests to the polls, New Yorkers are making clear we refuse to settle for the status quo — we want bold, progressive leaders fighting for us in Congress."

The 17th Congressional District is comprised of all of Rockland County and most of Westchester. It is a predominantly Democratic-voting district.

CORRECTION: Maureen McArdle Schulman, the Republican candidate on the November ballot for the 17th Congressional District race, is a resident of Shrub Oak, not Peekskill. Patch regrets the error.