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.

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — A new Siena College Poll released today shows Governor Kathy Hochul maintaining commanding leads over all three potential Republican challengers in hypothetical 2026 New York gubernatorial match-ups. The poll shows Rockland’s Congressman Mike Lawler outperforming Stefanik versus Hochul in the general election.

According to the poll of registered voters across the state, Hochul leads Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman 44-19%, Representative Elise Stefanik 47-24%, and Representative Mike Lawler 44-24%. These results are largely unchanged from May, indicating a stable political landscape heading into the second half of 2025.

“A first look at how New York voters feel about potential gubernatorial matchups shows that partisanship wins out,” said Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy. “Hochul leads Lawler by 20 points, Stefanik by 23 points, and Blakeman by 25 points.”

Democrats and Republicans Show Clear Preferences for 2026

Among Democratic voters, Hochul remains the overwhelming favorite in a possible primary scenario, garnering 49% support. She is well ahead of Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado (12%) and Representative Ritchie Torres (10%). These numbers are virtually unchanged from last month’s Siena poll.

On the Republican side, voters are rallying most strongly behind Elise Stefanik, who leads the GOP field with 35% support, compared to Mike Lawler’s 18% and Bruce Blakeman’s 7%.