New York has an unusually high number of competitive congressional races this year.
In the 17th District, Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney is facing off against Republican Mike Lawler. As CBS2’s Tony Aiello reports, it’s a key race as Republicans nationwide hope to win control of the House.
The breeze was brisk and turnout has been steady as voters across the newly drawn 17th Congressional District make their choice.
Maloney and his husband, Randy Florke, voted near their home in Putnam County. The congressman said he planned a quiet Election Day.
“I like to go for a hike sometimes in the woods, clear my head, and again, I think that Election Day is a day to respect the voters. We’ve had our chance to make our case; now, it’s up to them,” Maloney said.
He added he planned to spend time thanking campaign volunteers.
Maloney hasn’t been in a close race since 2014, when he won by 3,000 votes. Redistricting means his district now includes many Rockland County residents he has never represented.
His campaign will be keeping a close eye on returns from Peekskill, a Democratic stronghold in northern Westchester, and from Hasidic communities in Rockland, where Maloney won the endorsement of influential rabbis.
Democratic insiders are cautiously optimistic but realistic — this race is rated a tossup.
Because Maloney runs the Democrats’ effort to keep Congress, Republicans would take great delight in knocking him out.
Maloney emphasized election integrity, abortion rights and gun control during the campaign while also arguing Democratic efforts to ease inflation are beginning to work.
It’s not just redistricting that’s made this a tight race. House Republicans have helped funnel in more than $8 million into the district, money largely spent on political ads.
As CBS2’s Kevin Rincon reports, Lawler voted in Pearl River with his wife, Doina, and planned a day of last-minute campaigning.
“I’ll be driving around the district. We have a truck with signs and just barnstorm the district and try to turn people out to vote,” he said.
Throughout his campaign, he’s been focused on economic issues — things like inflation and taxes — and he’s campaigned on crime, calling for a change to bail reform laws in the state.
He says his team has seen some high turnout numbers, which he hopes will help, and if he does come out on top, it would be the first time in 42 years that a Republican beats the sitting chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Voters are no doubt anxious for the race to conclude after both sides spent almost $20 million on a barrage of attack ads.
Because a judge gave the OK to count most absentee ballots Tuesday night, instead of waiting until Wednesday, both campaigns expect to know the winner before the night is out.