'What An Absolute Ass Kicking,' Lawler Declares Victory

HUDSON VALLEY, NY —New York's 17th will be returning the incumbent to the U.S. House of Representatives.

"What an absolute ass kicking," incumbent Rep. Lawler told a gathered crowd, declaring victory as a Michael Jackson hit played. "Folks, tonight, the Hudson Valley told Mondaire Jones to 'beat it.'"

Mike Lawler (R, C) beat Mondaire Jones (D) for U.S. House District 17.

In District 17, a Rockland County resident named Anthony Frascone ran on the Working Families Party line. The New York Working Families Party started running an ad in late October telling members in the 17th Congressional District that Anthony Frascone, a Rockland County resident who popped up in the primaries and won the line, is a “fake candidate.” Party leaders accused Frascone, a former registered Republican, of working as a spoiler to benefit Lawler, according to City And State New York.

Republicans flipped four New York seats in 2022, including two in the Hudson Valley — one that had been vacated by Antonio Delgado when he became Lieutenant Governor, and one upset where Lawler ousted party leader and five-term congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.

The New York State Board of Elections numbers said Monday that a total of 2,985,181 state residents voted early between Oct. 26 and Nov. 3. The state also released new voter enrollment numbers as of Nov. 1 showing that there are 13.6 million total voters in the state — 12.4 million of them active. There are 5.9 million registered active Democrats, 2.8 million registered active Republicans and 3 million nonaffiliated with any party.