Ex-Rep. Mondaire Jones picks up Democratic primary endorsement in party’s bid to retake House

Former Rep. Mondaire Jones picked up the key endorsement of a Democratic congressman from a neighboring district in his effort to win back his old seat in Congress.

The progressive rising star got the nod for his comeback in the 17th District from Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan, who won a seat further north in the Hudson Valley amid a game of redistricting-inspired musical chairs in 2022.

“[Jones] is a proven fighter for Hudson Valley families,” Ryan said in a statement. “Mondaire is ready to deliver results on day one.”

Jones, who represented most of the 17th District for a single term and now serves on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, faces a Democratic primary for the district against Liz Geraghty, whose sister is popular Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The winner will seek to take back the Democratic-leaning seat from freshman Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in 2024.

Jones grew up in Rockland County in the northern suburbs and burst onto the political scene in 2020 by grabbing the seat that was previously held by veteran Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey. Jones was among the first gay Black men to win a seat in Congress in that election year.

The seat turned into a political football during the court-ordered redistricting battle prior to the 2022 race with Democratic power broker ex-Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney opting to run in the 17th District instead of his previous 18th District turf.

Maloney’s move effectively big-footed Jones, who opted to vie for a newly created district in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn instead. He lost that race to Rep. Dan Goldman.

Lawler in turn beat Maloney to flip the seat to the GOP, one of a half-dozen seats Republicans won in a mini-red wave in the Empire State.

Democrats are seeking to grab back the 17th District seat along with one won by controversial Rep. George Santos and up to four others on Long Island and upstate.

They could get a boost from a recent court decision opening the door to a new redrawing of district lines ahead of the 2024 vote.

A Democratic-drawn map might tweak the lines of several districts to make them more friendly to Democrats and could potentially lead to some candidates switching districts again.