Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC released the following statement endorsing former Congressman Mondaire Jones for New York’s 17th Congressional District. Jones previously represented this district in Congress from January 2021 to January 2023. The district is currently represented by Republican incumbent Mike Lawler.
“We are proud to support former Congressman Mondaire Jones for New York’s 17th Congressional District as we look to expand the Equality Caucus and elect a Pro-Equality majority in the House,” said Equality PAC. “At a time of unprecedented and seemingly daily attacks against LGBTQ+ Americans, LGBTQ+ representation at all levels of government is critical to ensuring our community is supported and protected. Mondaire is battle tested and understands the needs of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and residents that live across Rockland, Putnam, Northern Westchester, and Dutchess Counties, having previously represented large parts of this district in Congress before. We know that Mondaire will be a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ Americans and all underrepresented communities in the House.”
“It’s so important that our representatives are actually representative of the people,” said Jones. “It’s what I mean when I say that for me, policy is personal. It should be a priority of Congress to step in and protect LGBTQ+ people by passing the Equality Act, in addition to fighting for racial and gender equity. But right now, that’s not happening. That is why I am running to return to Congress, to make sure our federal government works on behalf of the people it serves and I am so grateful to have Equality PAC’s endorsement again as I begin this campaign.”
Jones was raised in Section 8 housing in Spring Valley by a single mom who struggled with mental illness and worked multiple jobs to provide for their family. Their family sometimes needed food stamps to get by, and when child care was too expensive, Jones’ grandmother took him to work with her cleaning homes in Hillcrest and Congers. Life wasn’t easy, but Jones’ mother always encouraged him to dream big despite their circumstances.
Jones graduated from East Ramapo public schools and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, work at the Department of Justice during the Obama Administration, and graduate from Harvard Law School. Jones worked as a litigator in the Westchester County Attorney’s Office, where he defended correctional officers and took guns away from dangerous people.
In 2020, Jones was elected to Congress to represent the Hudson Valley. His colleagues unanimously elected him the youngest member of House leadership, and he was named the most legislatively active freshman in Congress.
Jones earned a reputation as someone who stood up to the extremes in both parties to deliver results for the Lower Hudson Valley. During his time in Congress, Jones delivered record law enforcement funding to support our police officers and keep families safe, built a record as a staunch defender of Israel, and worked to block members of Congress from getting rich off the stock market.
Equality PAC’s mission is simple: to elect more LGBTQ+ persons to Congress — individuals who will have a seat at the table, impact the debate, and humanize the LGBTQ community’s concerns. All the funds we raise are used to elect and re-elect LGBTQ persons to Congress and secondarily support strong LGBTQ community allies who will proudly and unapologetically stand with us in the fight to pass the Equality Act and equal protection under our nation’s laws.
In the short time that Equality PAC has existed, Equality PAC has played an unmatched role in making history for the LGBTQ community, electing LGBTQ leaders at the federal level such as current House Members Sharice Davis (Kansas); Ritchie Torres (New York); Becca Balint (Vermont); Robert Garcia (California); Eric Sorensen (Illinois); Angie Craig (Minnesota); and Chris Pappas (New Hampshire), as well as former House Member Mondaire Jones (New York). Equality PAC has been instrumental in winning key races that have determined control of Congress because we know that without pro-Equality majorities, the progress our community has made and the civil rights and equal protections we have fought so hard for, and are still fighting for every day, remain in jeopardy.
