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Mike Lawler

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For persons of a similar name, see Michael Lawler (disambiguation).

Mike Lawler
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byMondaire Jones
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 97th district
In office
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byEllen Jaffee
Succeeded byJohn W. McGowan
Personal details
Born
Michael Vincent Lawler

(1986-09-09) September 9, 1986 (age 38)
Suffern, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDoina
RelationsTraugott Lawler (great uncle)
Children2
Residence(s)Pearl River, New York, U.S.
EducationManhattan College (BS)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Mike Lawler's voice
Mike Lawler questions witnesses on the New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act
Recorded July 27, 2023

Michael Vincent Lawler (born September 9, 1986) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 17th congressional district since 2023. From 2021 to 2022, he was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly from the 97th district in Rockland County.

Early life and education

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Mike Lawler was born to Marie (née Fortino) and Kevin Lawler,[1] and raised in South Salem, New York,[2] and Suffern, New York. Lawler is Catholic.[3] He is of Irish and Italian descent.[4]

He graduated from Suffern High School.[5]

Lawler earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from Manhattan College in 2009 and was named valedictorian of his graduating class.[6][7]

In October 2024, The New York Times discovered resurfaced photos of Lawler wearing a Michael Jackson costume that included blackface in 2006 at a Manhattan College Halloween party. In response, Lawler said that his costume was intended to be "truly the sincerest form of flattery, a genuine homage to my musical hero since I was a little kid trying to moonwalk through my mom's kitchen. The ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind."[8] It was also reported that in 2005, J. Randy Taraborrelli, a Michael Jackson biographer, helped get Lawler, then a high school senior, into the courtroom for Jackson's trial.[8]

In 2024, Lawler received an honorary doctorate from Touro University.[9]

Career

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In 2016, Lawler served as a Republican convention delegate for Donald Trump.[10]

In 2018, Lawler co-founded the political communications firm Checkmate Strategies.[11]

In 2020, Lawler was elected to the New York State Assembly for a two-year term, defeating Democratic incumbent Ellen Jaffee.[12][13]

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

Elections

[edit]

2022

[edit]
Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 17

Lawler was the Republican nominee in the 2022 general election in New York's 17th congressional district, having won the August 2022 primary. He narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent and DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney in the November general election.[14][15][16]

2024

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Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 17

On November 5, 2024, Lawler was re-elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 17th congressional district of New York, besting his opponent, Democratic nominee Mondaire Jones, by 23,946 votes.[17]

The New York Times said Lawler was "openly entertaining a bid for governor in 2026" while running for re-election to Congress.[18]

Tenure

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On January 4, 2023, Lawler called then-newly sworn Representative George Santos's conduct "embarrassing and unbecoming" and "certainly a distraction".[19] On January 12, he called for Santos to resign.[20]

Lawler voted for Kevin McCarthy in the 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election. McCarthy was unable to win the speakership on the first 14 ballots. Lawler said of the matter, "It's time for everybody to unify. It's time for everybody to move forward because the reality is the American people didn't elect us to fight over rules."[21]

On January 9, Lawler voted in favor of the House rules package.[22] Afterward, he gave his first House speech, in favor of a bill that would defund the IRS of the money allocated in the Inflation Reduction Act.[23]

Lawler was one of five Republicans to vote against the Parents' Bill of Rights in March 2023, and the only Republican not part of the Freedom Caucus to vote against it.[24] He co-sponsored the bill, but said he decided not to vote for it after an unspecified amendment "went too far".[25]

On June 21, Lawler voted with 20 other House Republicans to block the censure of Rep. Adam Schiff.[26][27]

On July 6, 2023, Lawler introduced H.R.4493 the District of Columbia One Vote One Choice Act to prohibit Washington, D.C., from adopting ranked-choice voting.[28] Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) and Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) were the only cosponsors.[29]

For much of 2023, Lawler had a policy of banning television news cameras from his town hall meetings; he rescinded the ban in early 2024.[30][31]

Lawler is a major supporter of raising the cap on the state and local tax deduction (SALT).[32][33] His support for increasing the SALT deduction drew criticism from Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) in May 2025.[34] President Trump encouraged House Republicans to pass a spending bill that boosts the SALT cap to $30,000, up from the current $10,000 deduction. Lawler and other blue-state Republicans representing high tax areas argued that this proposed increase was insufficient. In reference to Lawler's push for a higher SALT deduction, Trump singled out Lawler in a May 2025 meeting, saying "End it, Mike, just end it."[35]

Caucus memberships

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Committee assignments

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Political positions

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Lawler is a moderate Republican.[39][40][41]

In 2024, Lawler was rated as the fourth most bipartisan member of the U.S. House during the 118th United States Congress in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.[42]

Abortion

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Lawler opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is at risk, but opposes a federal ban on abortion.[43]

Animal welfare

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Lawler was a signatory on a letter opposing the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which would have overturned state animal welfare protections.[44] He also cosponsored the Puppy Protection Act.[45]

Boycotts

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In May 2023, Lawler along with Democrat Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced legislation expanding anti-boycott laws to include blocking boycotts organized by international governmental organizations, with the intended effect of stopping the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement in the United States.[46] It would prohibit American citizens and companies from supporting boycotts imposed by global entities (IGOs) against U.S. allies including Israel. The bill faced heavy criticism from House Republicans and conservatives who said it would violate Americans' First Amendment rights. House Republican leadership scrapped a vote on the bill in May 2025.[47][48][49][50]

Congestion pricing

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In 2023, Lawler opposed a plan by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to enact congestion pricing in Manhattan, New York City, one of the most traffic congested areas of the world.[51] The plan would charge most cars $15 per day to drive in Manhattan below 60th Street. Lawler said that the congestion pricing plan was not intended to reduce congestion, but was instead an "outrageous cash grab".[52][53] In 2024, he asked president-elect Donald Trump to kill the congestion pricing plan once he gets into office.[54]

2024 presidential election

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Lawler voted for Trump in the 2024 Republican primary in New York.[55]

Lawler was one of six Republicans to sign a bipartisan letter in which they pledged to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.[56]

Personal life

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Lawler lives in Pearl River with his wife, Doina, born in Moldova,[57] and their two daughters.[58]

Electoral history

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New York State Assembly District 97, General Election 2020[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Lawler 26,527 46.27 +17.91
Conservative Mike Lawler 2,697 4.70
Independence Mike Lawler 315 0.55
SAM Mike Lawler 397 0.69
Total Mike Lawler 29,936 52.22
Democratic Ellen Jaffee 27,359 47.72 −17.9
Total Ellen Jaffee (incumbent) 27,359 47.72
Write-in 35 0.06
Total votes 57,330 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic Swing +35.81
New York's 17th congressional district, Primary Election 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Lawler 11,603 75.8
Republican William Faulkner 1,772 11.6
Republican Charles Falciglia 1,310 8.6
Republican Shoshana David 444 2.9
Republican Jack Schrepel 176 1.1
Total votes 15,305 100.0
New York's 17th congressional district, General Election 2022[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean Patrick Maloney 130,999 45.6
Working Families Sean Patrick Maloney 8,083 2.8
Total Sean Patrick Maloney (Incumbent) 139,082 48.5
Republican Mike Lawler 124,148 43.3
Conservative Mike Lawler 17,573 6.1
Total Mike Lawler 141,721 49.4
Write-in 5,885 2.0
Total votes 286,688 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
New York's 17th congressional district, General Election 2024[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Lawler 180,924 47.7%
Conservative Mike Lawler 16,921 4.5%
Total Mike Lawler (incumbent) 197,845 52.2%
Democratic Mondaire Jones 173,899 45.9%
Working Families Anthony Frascone 7,530 2.0%
Total votes 379,274 100.0%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Kevin Lawler (December 25, 1958 – March 14, 2013)". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  2. ^ "Mike Lawler". votesmart.org. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  3. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. December 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Instagram Post By lawler4ny". Instagram. October 8, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "LAWLER, Michael 1986 –". Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Michael Lawler Commencement Speech. Michael Lawler. January 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Mike Lawler - Assembly District 97 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Fandos, Nicholas (October 3, 2024). "Photos Show New York Congressman in Blackface as Michael Jackson". The New York Times.
  9. ^ University, Touro. "Congressman Mike Lawler to Deliver Keynote Address at Touro's Lander Colleges Commencement". www.touro.edu.
  10. ^ Wilson, David McKay (April 8, 2024). "Did GOP Rep. Mike Lawler vote for Trump in presidential primary? He won't say". Rockland/Westchester Journal News (lohud.com). Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Lewis, Rebecca (October 21, 2022). "Mike Lawler's congressional campaign is paying his own consulting firm". City & State NY. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  12. ^ Lieberman, Steve. "Elections Update: Reichlin-Melnick wins Senate seat over Weber; Lawler unseats Jaffee". The Journal News. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  13. ^ Rocklandreport (November 28, 2020). "Mike Lawler Declared Winner in 97th Assembly District, Jaffee Concedes". Rockland Report. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Gronewold, Anna (August 23, 2022). "Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney routs progressive challenger in heated New York primary". POLITICO. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  15. ^ McKinley, Jesse; Fandos, Nicholas (November 9, 2022). "Sean Patrick Maloney Concedes to Mike Lawler in Major Loss for Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  16. ^ Mutnick, Ally; Ferris, Sarah; Gronewold, Anna (November 9, 2022). "DCCC chair Maloney concedes defeat in New York". Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "New York 17th Congressional District Election Results 2024: Lawler vs. Jones". The New York Times. November 5, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Fandos, Nicholas (September 17, 2024). "Pelosi Blamed New York for House Losses. Hochul Wants Another Chance". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Gans, Jared (January 3, 2023). "Incoming Republican rep: Santos a distraction to GOP". The Hill. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Bellamy, Phillip Pantuso (January 12, 2023). "Lawler, Molinaro call on Santos to resign; Stefanik still silent". Times Union.
  21. ^ "'It's a sad day for the American people.' Rep. Lawler frustrated by lack of votes for McCarthy as House speaker". News12 New Jersey. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  22. ^ "Roll Call 23 | Bill Number: H. Res. 5". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  23. ^ Lawler, Mike [@RepMikeLawler] (January 10, 2023). "Tonight, I delivered my first floor speech, supporting the Family & Small Business Protection Act, which will repeal the 87,000 new IRS agents. We need to make New York and our country more affordable and shouldn't use the IRS to target hardworking taxpayers. #CommitmentToAmerica https://t.co/sAp6k3kUWq" (Tweet). Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Roll Call 161 Roll Call 161, Bill Number: H. R. 5, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "Michael Lawler breaks GOP ranks, votes against 'Parents Bill of Rights' he co-sponsored". www.lohud.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  26. ^ "Most House Democrats and 20 Republicans voted to table a GOP-led effort to censure Adam Schiff". Politico. June 14, 2023.
  27. ^ Herszenhorn, Miles J. "These 20 Republicans voted with Democrats to block the censure of Adam Schiff". USA TODAY.
  28. ^ "Congressman Lawler Introduces Bill to Stop Ranked Choice Voting". Congressman Mike Lawler. Mike Lawler. May 25, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  29. ^ Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (July 6, 2023). "H.R.4493 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): District of Columbia One Vote One Choice Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved March 13, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Wilson, David McKay (December 13, 2023). "U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler's attacks on press freedoms draw scrutiny". Rockland/Westchester Journal News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Wilson, David McKay (January 9, 2024). "In face of criticism, Lawler rescinds press ban at his Congressional Town Halls". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  32. ^ Wasson, Erik (May 19, 2025). "Trump Loses Patience With SALT Demand as Tax Bill Faces Snag". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  33. ^ McKay Wilson, David (May 20, 2025). "Mike Lawler at odds with Trump as president seems to yank support for lifting SALT cap". The Journal News. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  34. ^ Lane, Sylvan (May 14, 2025). "Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lawler get salty in fight over tax demands". The Hill. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  35. ^ Zanona, Melanie (May 20, 2025). "Trump pushes House GOP holdouts to get behind the massive bill for his agenda". NBC News. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  36. ^ "About Climate Solutions Caucus". Climate Solutions Caucus. January 3, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  37. ^ "Committees and Caucuses | Congressman Mike Lawler". lawler.house.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  38. ^ "Committees and Caucuses". lawler.house.gov | Congressman Mike Lawler. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  39. ^ Anuta, Joe (December 3, 2023). "Speaker Johnson makes NY fundraising swing for battleground House races". Politico. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  40. ^ Mann, Brian (December 3, 2022). "Republicans won House seats in blue New York. Those wins could help shape Congress". NPR.
  41. ^ Reisman, Nick (November 6, 2024). "Republican Mike Lawler retains pivotal suburban NYC House seat". Politico. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  42. ^ McKenna, Chris (May 18, 2024). "Molinaro, Lawler ranked near top for bipartisan House work in 2023, annual score finds". LoHud. USA Today. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  43. ^ Lawler, Michael V. (October 6, 2022). "Mike Lawler: On abortion, I will always advocate for life | Opinion". The Journal News. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  44. ^ Downs, Garrett (August 21, 2023). "EATS opposition hits Congress". POLITICO. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  45. ^ "Standing Up for Man's Best Friend | Congressman Mike Lawler". lawler.house.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  46. ^ Rod, Marc (May 5, 2023). "Lawler, Gottheimer aim to expand U.S. anti-boycott law to combat BDS efforts". Jewish Insider. Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) are set to introduce legislation on Friday expanding U.S. anti-boycott laws to block U.S. companies and persons from participating in boycotts of U.S. allies by international governmental organizations, Jewish Insider has learned. Existing U.S. law bars U.S. companies and individuals from participating in boycotts of countries "friendly to the United States" organized by foreign countries or providing information that could facilitate those boycotts. It also requires them to report to the U.S. government when they are asked to comply with such boycotts. The new legislationEditSign will modify the law to encompass boycotts organized by international governmental organizations (IGOs), such as the United Nations and European Union. Although not specifically mentioned in the bill's text, Lawler and Gottheimer said in statements that the change comes in response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel
  47. ^ "House Pulls Bill Prohibiting Anti-Israel Boycotts After Conservative Backlash". dailycaller.com. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  48. ^ Rod, Marc (May 5, 2025). "House cancels vote on IGO Anti-Boycott Act following right-wing objections". Jewish Insider. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  49. ^ Staff, Al Jazeera. "US bill to ban Israel boycotts faces right-wing backlash over free speech". Al Jazeera. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  50. ^ Bernard, Andrew (May 5, 2025). "House leadership nixes vote on Israel boycott bill". JNS.org. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  51. ^ "4 members of Congress form anti-congestion pricing caucus". PIX11. March 16, 2023.
  52. ^ "Congressmen Mike Lawler and Josh Gottheimer slam congestion pricing as "money grab," say it will wreck area small businesses". www.cbsnews.com. December 4, 2023.
  53. ^ Bellamy, Lana (December 7, 2023). "Congestion pricing closer to reality after MTA vote". Times Union.
  54. ^ "New York to become first US city to have congestion charge". BBC News. 2024.
  55. ^ "The Source with Kaitlan Collins". CNN. April 10, 2024. I did vote for the former President
  56. ^ Brooks, Emily (September 13, 2024). "6 House Republicans join bipartisan commitment to uphold election results". The Hill. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  57. ^ Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (July 12, 2023). "Supporting a Democratic and Secure Moldova" (PDF). Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Retrieved May 13, 2025. The Hearing Was Held From 2:21 p.m. To 4:02 p.m., Room 210 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.,
  58. ^ "Mazel Tov! Congressman Mike Lawler Welcomes Second Daughter, Elizabeth Rose". Rockland Daily .com. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  59. ^ "2020 General Election Official Results" (PDF). Rockland County Board of Elections.
  60. ^ "August 23 Federal and State primary results". New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  61. ^ "Certified November 5, 2024 General Election Results, approved 12.09.2024" (XLSX). New York State Board of Elections. 17th CD. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
[edit]

Federal

State

New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 97th district
2021–2022 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th congressional district
2023–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
335th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Lawler&oldid=1294326986"