NY Rep. Mike Lawler loses re-election in blue wave — despite swell of support from large bloc of Orthodox Jewish voters

Democratic challenger Cait Conley defeated Republican incumbent Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District, as a strong Democratic wave and anti-Trump voting outweighed Lawler’s support among Orthodox Jewish voters. The result shows how his strength in parts of Rockland County was insufficient to offset Conley’s lead in the district’s more Democratic areas.

Lawler won 71% of precincts in Ramapo, which has many Orthodox and Hasidic voters, and led Conley in Rockland County by 55% to 45%, fewer than 10,000 votes. But Conley carried Orangetown, Clarkstown and Haverstraw, while Lawler’s margin in Republican-leaning Putnam County was only two points; early Westchester returns gave Conley an advantage of about 25,000 votes, with counting continuing after a polling-place software glitch. Lawler conceded on Tuesday, and Conley said she was ready to take office on 1 January.