Pelosi endorses Mondaire Jones in key New York primary

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is endorsing former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) in a critical battleground House race.

Jones is running against Liz Whitmer Gereghty, a small business owner and the sister of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), in New York’s 17th Congressional District to take on GOP Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.). Pelosi is the most prominent Democrat so far to wade into what’s expected to be a messy primary.

“Honored to be endorsed by Speaker Pelosi! Last term, Democrats rescued the economy from collapse, capped drug costs for seniors and passed gun reforms,” Jones posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “By contrast, Mike Lawler’s MAGA Republicans can barely keep the lights on. Democrats must retake the House to continue our work.”

Pelosi also backed Jones last year when redistricting forced him to compete in New York’s 10th Congressional District — which was then an open primary. Jones ultimately lost to Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.).

Lawler took a jab at Pelosi over her endorsement of Jones, writing on X, “I’m proud to have helped end Nancy Pelosi’s reign as Speaker of the House.”

“Enjoy her endorsement @MondaireJones — it didn’t help you when you ran in New York City last year and it won’t help you in the Hudson Valley next year,” he added.

Lawler is among 18 Republicans holding districts that President Biden carried in 2020.

The New York Republican’s win last year was seen as a major win for the GOP after he defeated former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), then the chair of the House Democrats’ campaign arm. 

His seat is rated as a “toss up” by the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report.