Michael Vincent Lawler (born September 9, 1986) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 17th congressional district since 2023. From 2021 to 2022, he was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly from the 97th district in Rockland County.
Mike Lawler | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mondaire Jones |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 97th district | |
| In office January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ellen Jaffee |
| Succeeded by | John W. McGowan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Vincent Lawler September 9, 1986 Suffern, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Doina |
| Relations | Traugott Lawler (great uncle) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence(s) | Pearl River, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Manhattan College (BS) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website |
Early life and education
editLawler was born and raised in Suffern, New York.
Lawler graduated from Suffern High School.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from Manhattan College in 2009 and was named valedictorian of his graduating class.[1][2]
Career
editLawler was a partner at the pro-Republican political communications firm Checkmate Strategies from 2018 until 2022.[citation needed] He previously worked in the Westchester County Executive's Office as an advisor to Rob Astorino and executive director of the New York State Republican Party. Before winning his election, he served as deputy town supervisor of Orangetown, New York.[citation needed] Additionally, he served as a Republican convention delegate for Trump in 2016.[3]
Lawler was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 for a two-year term, defeating Democratic incumbent Ellen Jaffee.[4][5]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2022
editLawler was the Republican nominee in the 2022 general election in New York's 17th congressional district, having won the August 2022 primary. He narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent and DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney in the November general election.[6][7][8]
2024
editThe New York Times said Lawler is "openly entertaining a bid for governor in 2026" while running for re-election to Congress.[9]
On November 5, 2024, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 17th Congressional district of New York, besting his opponent, Mondaire Jones by approximately 7 percentage points.[10]
Tenure
editOn January 4, 2023, Lawler called then-newly sworn Representative George Santos's conduct "embarrassing and unbecoming" and "certainly a distraction".[11] On January 12, he called for Santos to resign.[12]
Lawler voted for Kevin McCarthy in the 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election. McCarthy was unable to win the speakership on the first 14 ballots. Lawler said of the matter, "It's time for everybody to unify. It's time for everybody to move forward because the reality is the American people didn't elect us to fight over rules."[13]
On January 9, Lawler voted in favor of the House rules package.[14] Afterward, he gave his first House speech, in favor of a bill that would defund the IRS of the money allocated in the Inflation Reduction Act.[15]
Lawler was one of five Republicans to vote against the Parents' Bill of Rights in March 2023, and the only Republican not part of the Freedom Caucus to vote against it.[16] He co-sponsored the bill, but said he decided not to vote for it after an unspecified amendment "went too far".[17]
On June 21, Lawler voted with 212 other House Republicans in favor of the censure of Rep. Adam Schiff.[18][19]
Along with Claudia Tenney, Lawler introduced a bill to prohibit Washington, D.C. from adopting ranked-choice voting.[20]
For much of 2023, Lawler had a policy of banning television news cameras from his town hall meetings; he rescinded the ban in early 2024.[21][22]
On October 3, 2024, The New York Times discovered resurfaced photos of Lawler wearing a Michael Jackson costume that included blackface in 2006 at Manhattan College at a Halloween party. In response, Lawler stated that his costume was intended to be “truly the sincerest form of flattery, a genuine homage to my musical hero since I was a little kid trying to moonwalk through my mom’s kitchen. The ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind."[23] It was also reported that in 2005, J. Randy Taraborrelli, a Michael Jackson biographer who helped get Lawler into the courtroom Jackson's trial, recalled that Lawler, then a senior in high school and "young fan" of Jackson had been “so disgusted” by testimony against Jackson “that he couldn’t help but mutter something derogatory under his breath.” Lawler was later removed from the courtroom.”[23]
Caucus memberships
editCommittee assignments
editPolitical positions
editLawler is generally considered to be a centrist politician, with Politico describing Lawler as "an avowed moderate".[26][27]
In 2024, Lawler was rated as the fourth most bipartisan member of the U.S. House during the 118th United States Congress in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.[28]
Abortion
editLawler opposes a federal ban on abortion. He is pro-life except in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is at risk.[29]
Congestion pricing
editIn 2023, Lawler opposed a plan by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to enact congestion pricing in Manhattan, New York City, one of the most traffic congested areas of the world.[30] The plan would charge most cars $15 per day to drive in Manhattan below 60th Street. Lawler said that the congestion pricing plan was not intended to reduce congestion, but was instead an "outrageous cash grab."[31][32]
2024 presidential election
editLawler voted for Trump in the 2024 Republican primary in New York.[33]
Lawler was one of six Republicans to sign a bipartisan letter in which they pledged to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.[34]
Personal life
editLawler lives in Pearl River with his wife, Doina, and their daughter.[35]
Lawler is Catholic.[36] He is of Irish and Italian descent.[citation needed]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Lawler | 26,527 | 46.27 | +17.91 | |
| Conservative | Mike Lawler | 2,697 | 4.70 | ||
| Independence | Mike Lawler | 315 | 0.55 | ||
| SAM | Mike Lawler | 397 | 0.69 | ||
| Total | Mike Lawler | 29,936 | 52.22 | ||
| Democratic | Ellen Jaffee | 27,359 | 47.72 | −17.9 | |
| Total | Ellen Jaffee (incumbent) | 27,359 | 47.72 | ||
| Write-in | 35 | 0.06 | |||
| Total votes | 57,330 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | +35.81 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Lawler | 11,603 | 75.8 | |
| Republican | William Faulkner | 1,772 | 11.6 | |
| Republican | Charles Falciglia | 1,310 | 8.6 | |
| Republican | Shoshana David | 444 | 2.9 | |
| Republican | Jack Schrepel | 176 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 15,305 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sean Patrick Maloney | 130,999 | 45.6 | |
| Working Families | Sean Patrick Maloney | 8,083 | 2.8 | |
| Total | Sean Patrick Maloney (Incumbent) | 139,082 | 48.5 | |
| Republican | Mike Lawler | 124,148 | 43.3 | |
| Conservative | Mike Lawler | 17,573 | 6.1 | |
| Total | Mike Lawler | 141,721 | 49.4 | |
| Write-in | 5,885 | 2.0 | ||
| Total votes | 286,688 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
References
edit- ^ Michael Lawler Commencement Speech. Michael Lawler. January 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Mike Lawler - Assembly District 97 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Wilson, David McKay (April 8, 2024). "Did GOP Rep. Mike Lawler vote for Trump in presidential primary? He won't say". Rockland/Westchester Journal News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Lieberman, Steve. "Elections Update: Reichlin-Melnick wins Senate seat over Weber; Lawler unseats Jaffee". The Journal News. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Rocklandreport (November 28, 2020). "Mike Lawler Declared Winner in 97th Assembly District, Jaffee Concedes". Rockland Report. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Gronewold, Anna (August 23, 2022). "Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney routs progressive challenger in heated New York primary". POLITICO. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ McKinley, Jesse; Fandos, Nicholas (November 9, 2022). "Sean Patrick Maloney Concedes to Mike Lawler in Major Loss for Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Mutnick, Ally; Ferris, Sarah; Gronewold, Anna (November 9, 2022). "DCCC chair Maloney concedes defeat in New York". Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Fandos, Nicholas (September 17, 2024). "Pelosi Blamed New York for House Losses. Hochul Wants Another Chance". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "New York 17th Congressional District Election Results 2024: Lawler vs. Jones". The New York Times. November 5, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Gans, Jared (January 3, 2023). "Incoming Republican rep: Santos a distraction to GOP". The Hill. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Bellamy, Phillip Pantuso (January 12, 2023). "Lawler, Molinaro call on Santos to resign; Stefanik still silent". Times Union.
- ^ "'It's a sad day for the American people.' Rep. Lawler frustrated by lack of votes for McCarthy as House speaker". News12 New Jersey. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Roll Call 23 | Bill Number: H. Res. 5". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Lawler, Mike [@RepMikeLawler] (January 10, 2023). "Tonight, I delivered my first floor speech, supporting the Family & Small Business Protection Act, which will repeal the 87,000 new IRS agents. We need to make New York and our country more affordable and shouldn't use the IRS to target hardworking taxpayers. #CommitmentToAmerica https://t.co/sAp6k3kUWq" (Tweet). Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Roll Call 161 Roll Call 161, Bill Number: H. R. 5, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Michael Lawler breaks GOP ranks, votes against 'Parents Bill of Rights' he co-sponsored". www.lohud.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Most House Democrats and 20 Republicans voted to table a GOP-led effort to censure Adam Schiff". Politico. June 14, 2023.
- ^ Herszenhorn, Miles J. "These 20 Republicans voted with Democrats to block the censure of Adam Schiff". USA TODAY.
- ^ "Congressman Lawler Introduces Bill to Stop Ranked Choice Voting". Congressman Mike Lawler. Mike Lawler. May 25, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ Wilson, David McKay (December 13, 2023). "U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler's attacks on press freedoms draw scrutiny". Rockland/Westchester Journal News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Wilson, David McKay (January 9, 2024). "In face of criticism, Lawler rescinds press ban at his Congressional Town Halls". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Fandos, Nicholas (October 3, 2024). "Photos Show New York Congressman in Blackface as Michael Jackson". The New York Times.
- ^ "About Climate Solutions Caucus". Climate Solutions Caucus. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses | Congressman Mike Lawler". lawler.house.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Anuta, Joe (December 3, 2023). "Speaker Johnson makes NY fundraising swing for battleground House races". Politico. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Mann, Brian (December 3, 2022). "Republicans won House seats in blue New York. Those wins could help shape Congress". NPR.
- ^ McKenna, Chris (May 18, 2024). "Molinaro, Lawler ranked near top for bipartisan House work in 2023, annual score finds". LoHud. USA Today. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Lawler, Michael V. (October 6, 2022). "Mike Lawler: On abortion, I will always advocate for life | Opinion". The Journal News. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ "4 members of Congress form anti-congestion pricing caucus". PIX11. March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Congressmen Mike Lawler and Josh Gottheimer slam congestion pricing as "money grab," say it will wreck area small businesses". www.cbsnews.com. December 4, 2023.
- ^ Bellamy, Lana (December 7, 2023). "Congestion pricing closer to reality after MTA vote". Times Union.
- ^ "The Source with Kaitlan Collins". CNN. April 10, 2024.
I did vote for the former President
- ^ Brooks, Emily (September 13, 2024). "6 House Republicans join bipartisan commitment to uphold election results". The Hill. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ "About Congressman Mike Lawler". Congressman Mike Lawler.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. December 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "2020 General Election Official Results" (PDF). Rockland County Board of Elections.
- ^ "August 23 Federal and State primary results". New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
External links
edit- Congressman Mike Lawler official U.S. House website
- Campaign website