Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York’s 17th Congressional District indicates that he is interested in a run against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who in July said she plans to run in 2026 for another four-year term in office.
In the Nov. 5 election, Lawler defeated former Congressman Mondaire Jones in the contest to represent the 17th District, which includes Rockland County and Putnam County, as well as most of Northern Westchester County, and parts of southern Dutchess County. In the Westchester part of the district, Jones got 55% of the vote compared with Lawler’s 43% of the vote.
“I think the problem in New York for Democrats is very simple,” Lawler said in an interview Nov. 20 on MSNBC. “They control everything; they own it. We’ve seen a migrant crisis, we’ve seen a crime crisis; we’ve seen an affordability crisis. People cannot afford to live in New York. We lead the nation in out-migration for a reason. We have the highest tax burden. You see Wall Street and big banks leaving New York. They’re going to Palm Beach, they’re going to Salt Lake City, they’re going to Dallas.”
Lawler said that Gov. Kathy Hochul is “one of the most incompetent governors in the county.”
When asked if he had his eye on the job of New York governor, Lawler said, “We’re going to look at it for sure. I think it’s clear that one-party rule in New York hasn’t worked and there needs to be more balance and common sense. I’ve won three times now in two-to-one Democratic districts.”
Lawler reiterated his opposition to the Congestion Pricing tolls that are scheduled to be put into effect on Jan. 5
“Here you have Kathy Hochul bringing back Congestion Pricing, which is nothing more than a scam,” Lawler said. “It’s a commuter tax one week after the election charging the average New Yorker $2,500 just to commute to work, meanwhile providing illegal immigrants with billions of dollars worth of free housing, health care, clothing, education and food but yet charging the average New Yorker to commute to work. I do think there’s an opportunity in 2026 and we’ll take a look at it.”
Lawler said there has been a rightward shift in New York based on how people view the issues.
“Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat really doesn’t really matter,” Lawler said. “Most people just want a good paying job for their families, a good quality education for their children, access to housing and health care, and they want to live in safe neighborhoods.”
When asked whether he believes Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for U.S. Attorney General, former Rep. Matt Gaetz has the character and qualifications to head the Department of Justice, Lawler said “no.”
“The president has the right to nominate who he sees fit to serve in his cabinet but that’s why we have a Senate confirmation process and Matt’s going to have to answer a lot of questions about the allegations that have been leveled against him including, obviously, the allegations that he had sex with underage women and paid for it.”
Lawler appeared on the MSNBC program “Morning Joe.”
