NY-17: Former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones plans to launch a comeback bid
What’s happening: Former Rep. Mondaire Jones, one of the first two openly gay Black men elected to Congress, was bigfooted out of office in 2022 by his party’s campaign committee chair after a prolonged redistricting saga. Now he’s readying another run for the lower Hudson Valley swing seat, according to two people familiar with his plans who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them.
Details: He’s begun lining up seasoned campaign staff and mapping out a plan to highlight a voting record that aligns more closely with mainstream Democrats — and not the far-left faction of his party. Jones was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and he was first elected in 2020 along with several members of the so-called squad who are among the most liberal members of the House.
Jones’ campaign manager will be Kunal Atit, who managed Rep. Matt Cartwright’s (D-Pa.) 2022 reelection in a swing district. J.J. Balaban, an admaker with experience in competitive races, will make his television ads.
https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/06-5-2023/mondaire-jones-next-steps/
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