Politics

AP Names Rockland’s Mondaire Jones Winner in NY’s 17 Congressional District

Published

5 years ago

November 5, 2020

NYACK, NY – AP (Associated Press) Declares Rockland’s Mondaire Jones Winner in NY-17 Congressional District. Jones makes history as the nation’s first openly gay, black member of Congress.

Jones released the following statement:

“After more than a year of building a people-powered, grassroots campaign with thousands of supporters, I am incredibly proud to be elected to represent the community that raised me. Growing up poor, Black, and gay, I never imagined that someone like me could make it to the halls of Congress.

“But this victory is not about me. It’s a victory for young people, who deserve a planet we can inhabit. It’s for the hard-working single moms like mine, who held multiple jobs just to provide for our family. It’s for the janitors like my late grandfather, and the housecleaners like my grandmother, who deserve an economy that works for them. It’s for our immigrant brothers and sisters, contributing members of our society and the engine of our economy, who should not have to live in the shadows. It’s for the hundreds of thousands of young, queer kids from across Westchester and Rockland and throughout America, many of whom have written to me to say that seeing an out candidate run and win gives them the confidence to embrace who they are to live authentic lives. And it’s for the great people of New York’s 17th Congressional District, who defied conventional wisdom and rallied behind a people’s champion, and for a future that works for everyone.

VIDEO: Mondaire Jones early voting at Orangetown Town Hall

“And that is a future worth fighting for. It’s a future where everyone is paid a living wage for their labor, and no one goes hungry or homeless because they can’t afford to live. It’s a future where everyone — and I mean everyone — has quality health care, regardless of employment status. It’s a future where we have saved the planet from climate catastrophe and ensured a livable planet for our children and their children. It’s a future where a quality public education is a right guaranteed to all. And it’s a future where racial justice is, once and for all, obtained for communities of color throughout this nation.”

Jones is 32-year-old Spring Valley High School graduate. He later graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law School. Mondaire worked as a litigator in the Westchester County Law Department and former Department of Justice staffer during the Obama Administration.

Politics

Brett Yagel Announces Candidacy for New York State Assembly in 96th District

Published

3 months ago

January 19, 2026

Rockland Report Editor

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Brett Yagel, the former Mayor of the Village of Pomona has officially announced his candidacy for the New York State Assembly in the 96th District.

Below you can read Yagel’s full announcement:

“I am proud to announce that I am seeking the support of the Republican and Conservative Parties as a candidate for the New York State Assembly in the 96th District.
I am not a career politician. I am a problem solver. As Mayor and as a professional working for one of the world’s largest defense contractors, I have spent my career focused on results, accountability, and getting complex jobs done the right way. Leadership and responsibility are not abstract concepts to me. They are values I have lived every day in public service and in the private sector.

Albany is broken. It is dominated by career politicians who create problems, expand government, and then ask for more power to fix the very messes they created. The people of the 96th District deserve better than politics as usual.

Our district needs a leader with real world experience, common sense, and the courage to challenge the status quo. I am ready to bring accountability, fiscal responsibility, and practical,
results driven solutions to Albany. Most importantly, I will be a strong and independent voice for the hardworking families of the 96th District.

If you are tired of excuses and ready for real results, I would be honored to earn your support.”

Yagel will running against incumbent Assemblyman Patrick Carroll.

Politics

Congressman Mike Lawler Announces Bid for Reelection to Congress, Will Not Run for Governor

Published

9 months ago

July 23, 2025

Rockland Report Editor

Rockland County, NY — Congressman Mike Lawler, a lifelong Rockland County resident and graduate of Suffern High School, officially announced today that he will seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, putting to rest speculation that he might enter the race for Governor of New York.

Lawler, who represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, said his decision to remain focused on Congress reflects his commitment to continuing the work he’s started on behalf of Hudson Valley residents. Since taking office in January 2023, Lawler’s office has closed over 6,000 constituent service cases and successfully returned more than $27.2 million to residents throughout the district.

One of his signature achievements has been his leadership in reforming the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap. Under Lawler’s advocacy, the SALT cap was quadrupled to $40,000, providing significant tax relief to middle-class families across the region for the next ten years.

Lawler’s decision not to run for governor preserves his role as a key Republican voice in a competitive swing district, and positions him for what is expected to be a closely watched race in 2026.
About Congressman Mike Lawler:

New York’s 17th Congressional District, includes Rockland and portions of Westchester and Putnam County.