Gereghty ends bid for Congress and backs Jones as Democratic challenger for Lawler in 2024
The field of Democrats vying to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Lawler narrowed on Wednesday when Westchester County resident Liz Whitmer Gereghty ended her campaign and announced her support for former Rep. Mondaire Jones.
Whitmer Gereghty, who launched her campaign in May before Jones entered the race, had served on the Katonah-Lewisboro school board and owned a Katonah shop but drew immediate media and fundraising attention for her candidacy through a notable family tie: her sister is Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a rising star in the Democratic party.
She ended her six-month run and endorsed Jones with a statement that slammed Lawler and Republicans but gave no explanation for her decision, other than the need for Democrats to unify to unseat Lawler and regain control of the House in 2024.
“When we started this journey, we had one goal: to ensure the Hudson Valley was no longer represented by an anti-choice, shape-shifting extremist out of step with our values," Whitmer Gereghty said. "That remains the most important goal."
Her withdrawal leaves two Democrats pursuing New York's 17th Congressional District seat: Jones, who represented the district for one term before congressional lines were redrawn last year; and MaryAnn Carr, a former town of Bedford supervisor and councilwoman. Jones is backed by Democratic leaders and elected officials across the district and had nearly $850,000 in his campaign account as of Sept. 30, compared to Carr's $10,000.
Campaign launch: Which Democrat will challenge Lawler? There's one in the race, another in the wings.
The House Republicans' campaign arm responded to Whitmer Gereghty's exit by turning its fire on Jones with a statement that offered a preview of the clashes ahead.
"Now that Democrats are forced to accept Mondaire Jones as their nominee, they will also be forced to defend his pathetic record of wanting to defund the police, abandoning Israel and leaving his former constituents in a lurch," said Savannah Viar, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "We don't envy them."
Lawler, a former GOP consultant and assemblyman from Rockland County, won the 17th District seat last year by narrowly beating Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. Maloney had represented the 18th District for five terms and opted for the 17th District race after lines were redrawn, prompting Jones to run instead for a seat in New York City with a crowded Democratic field.
Maloney upset: With his victory in hand, Mike Lawler pledges to work in bipartisan fashion in Congress
Jones said in a post on the social media site X on Wednesday that Whitmer Gereghty called him Tuesday night to say she was suspending her campaign.
"I thanked her for her contributions to our community," he wrote. "I’m honored to have Liz’s endorsement and ready to work together to defeat Mike Lawler, who masquerades as a moderate on television but votes like an extreme MAGA Republican."
Lawler wished Whitmer Gereghty well in his own X post.
"Running for office is not for the faint of heart," he said. "While there is much we disagree on, I appreciate her willingness to put her name forward and get in the arena. That Liz did not find traction in today’s Democratic Party speaks volumes."
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Liz Gereghty ends Congress run, backs Mondaire Jones to take on Lawler
