New York's 17th congressional district explained

State:	New York
District Number:	17
Image Caption:	Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative:	Mike Lawler
Party:	Republican
Residence:	Pearl River
Percent Urban:	98.40
Percent Rural:	1.60
Population:	771,464
Population Year:	2022
Median Income:	$115,661^[1]
Percent White:	64.4
Percent Hispanic:	19.9
Percent Black:	7.1
Percent Asian:	5.0
Percent More Than One Race:	2.7
Percent Other Race:	0.9
Cpvi:	D+3^[2]

New York's 17th congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in Southern New York. It includes all of Rockland County and Putnam County, as well as most of Northern Westchester County, and portions of southern Dutchess County. It is represented by Republican Mike Lawler. It was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

Mondaire Jones was first elected in 2020 to succeed the retiring Representative Nita Lowey.^[3] In the aftermath of the 2020 redistricting cycle, 18th district incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney announced his intention to run in the new 17th district instead of his existing seat; Jones subsequently opted to run in the 10th district to avoid a primary fight. However, Maloney lost to Republican Mike Lawler in the general election; Lawler subsequently became the first of his party to win this seat since 1981. Lawler's victory gained significant attention due to Maloney's position as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Maloney became the first chairman in over 40 years to lose reelection.^[4]

The district has a significant Jewish population, including conservative Hasidic communities in Rockland County.^[5] ^[6]

Recent statewide election results

Year	Office	Results
1992	President	Clinton 75–19%
1996	President	Clinton 85–11%
2000	President	Gore 69–27%
2004	President	Kerry 67–33%
2008	President	Obama 72–28%
2012	President	Obama 57–41%
2016	President	H. Clinton 52–39%
2020	President	Biden 60–39%

History

2023–present:

All of Putnam, Rockland

Parts of Dutchess, Westchester2013–2023: map

Part of Westchester2003–2013:

Parts of Bronx, Rockland, Westchester.1993–2003:

Parts of Bronx, Westchester.1983–1993:

Parts of Bronx, Manhattan.1973–1983:

All of Staten Island.

Parts of Manhattan.1913–1973:

Parts of Manhattan.1843–1853:

Montgomery

Various New York districts have been numbered "17" over the years, including areas in New York City and various parts of upstate New York. From 2003-2013, the 17th district encompassed portions of the Bronx, Westchester County, and Rockland County. It included the neighborhoods of Norwood, Riverdale, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, and Woodlawn in the Bronx; the city of Mount Vernon and parts of Yonkers in Westchester; and Monsey, Nanuet, Pearl River, Orangetown, Sparkill, Spring Valley, Haverstraw, and Suffern in Rockland County.

List of members representing the district

The District was historically the East Side Manhattan district (known as the "silk stocking district" for the wealth of its constituents). In the 1970s it was a Staten Island seat. It became the west side Manhattan seat in the 1980s. It became a Bronx-based seat in the 1992 remap and was shifted north into Rockland county in 2002 to absorb terrain from the deconstruction of the old 20th district.

Previously the 19th district covered much of the Bronx portion of the seat in the 1980s; while in the 1970s the 23rd district covered most of the Bronx area.

1803–1833: one seat

Representative	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	Location
District established March 4, 1803
align=left	Oliver Phelps		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805		Elected in 1802.	1803–1809
align=left	Silas Halsey		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807		Elected in 1804. Lost re-election.
align=left	John Harris		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809		Elected in 1806. Lost re-election.
District inactive		nowrap	March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1813
align=left	William S. Smith		Federalist	nowrap	March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815		Elected in 1812. Re-elected in 1814 but did not take or claim the seat.	1813–1823 Herkimer County, except the Town of Danube; and Madison County.
Vacant		nowrap	March 4, 1815 – December 13, 1815
align=left	Westel Willoughby Jr.		Democratic-Republican		nowrap	December 13, 1815 – March 3, 1817	Successfully contested Smith's election.
align=left	Thomas H. Hubbard		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819		Elected in 1816.
align=left	Aaron Hackley Jr.		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821		Elected in 1818.
Vacant		nowrap	March 4, 1821 – December 3, 1821		Elections were held in April 1821. It is unclear when results were announced or credentials issued.
align=left	Thomas H. Hubbard		Democratic-Republican		nowrap	December 3, 1821 – March 3, 1823	Elected in 1821.
align=left rowspan=2	John W. Taylor		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825		Redistricted from 11th district and re-elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Lost re-election.	Saratoga County
	Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1833					Saratoga County

1833–1843: two seats

From 1833 to 1843, two seats were apportioned to the 17th district, elected at-large on a general ticket.

Seat A

Representative	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history
align=left	Samuel Beardsley		Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1833 – March 29, 1836		Redistricted from 14th district and re-elected in 1832. Re-elected in 1834. Resigned to become circuit judge.
Vacant		nowrap	March 29, 1836 – November 9, 1836
align=left	Rutger B. Miller		Jacksonian		nowrap	November 9, 1836 – March 3, 1837	Elected to finish Beardsley's term.
align=left	Henry A. Foster		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839		Elected in 1836.
align=left	David P. Brewster		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843		Elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840.

Seat B

Representative	Party	Cong ress	Electoral history
align=left	Joel Turrill	Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837	Elected in 1832. Re-elected in 1834.
align=left	Abraham P. Grant	Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839	Elected in 1836.
align=left	John G. Floyd	Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843	Elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840.

1843–present: one seat

Representative	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	District location
align=left	Charles S. Benton		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847		Elected in 1842. Re-elected in 1844.
align=left	George Petrie		Independent Democrat	nowrap	March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849		Elected in 1846.
align=left	Henry P. Alexander		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851		Elected in 1848.
align=left	Alexander H. Buell		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1851 – January 29, 1853		Elected in 1850. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	January 29, 1853 – March 3, 1853
align=left	Bishop Perkins		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855		Elected in 1852.
align=left rowspan=2 nowrap	Francis E. Spinner		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857		Elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858.
	Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861				Elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858.
align=left	Socrates N. Sherman		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863		Elected in 1860.
align=left	Calvin T. Hulburd		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869		Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866.
align=left	William A. Wheeler		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873		Elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Redistricted to 18th district.
align=left	Robert S. Hale		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875		Elected in 1872.
align=left	Martin I. Townsend		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879		Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876.
align=left	Walter A. Wood		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883		Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880.
align=left	Henry G. Burleigh		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885		Elected in 1882. Redistricted to 18th district
align=left	James G. Lindsley		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887		Elected in 1884.
align=left	Stephen T. Hopkins		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889		Elected in 1886.
align=left	Charles J. Knapp		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891		Elected in 1888.
align=left	Isaac N. Cox		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893		Elected in 1890.
align=left	Francis Marvin		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895		Elected in 1892.
align=left	Benjamin B. Odell Jr.		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899		Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896.
align=left	Arthur S. Tompkins		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903		Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900.
align=left	Francis E. Shober		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905		Elected in 1902.
align=left	William S. Bennet		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1911		Elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908.
align=left	Henry George Jr.		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913		Elected in 1910. Redistricted to 21st district
align=left	John F. Carew		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1919		Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916 Redistricted to 18th district
align=left	Herbert Pell		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921		Elected in 1918.
align=left	Ogden L. Mills		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1927		Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924.
align=left	William W. Cohen		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929		Elected in 1926.
align=left	Ruth B. Pratt		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933		Elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930.
align=left	Theodore A. Peyser		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1933 – August 8, 1937		Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	August 8, 1937 – November 2, 1937
align=left	Bruce F. Barton		Republican	nowrap	November 2, 1937 – January 3, 1941		Elected to finish Peyser's term. Re-elected in 1938.
align=left	Kenneth F. Simpson		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1941 – January 25, 1941		Elected in 1940. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	January 29, 1941 – March 11, 1941
align=left	Joseph C. Baldwin		Republican	nowrap	March 11, 1941 – January 3, 1947		Elected to finish Simpson's term. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944.
align=left	Frederic R. Coudert Jr.		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1959		Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956.
align=left	John V. Lindsay		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1959 – December 31, 1965		Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Resigned after being elected as Mayor of New York City.
Vacant		nowrap	January 1, 1966 – February 7, 1966
align=left	Theodore R. Kupferman		Republican	nowrap	February 8, 1966 – January 3, 1969		Elected to finish Lindsay's term. Re-elected in 1966.
align=left	Ed Koch		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973		Elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to 18th district
align=left	John M. Murphy		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981		Redistricted from 16th district and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978.
align=left	Guy Molinari		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983		Elected in 1980. Redistricted to 14th district
align=left	Ted Weiss		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1983 – September 14, 1992		Redistricted from 20th district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	September 15, 1992 – November 2, 1992
align=left	Jerry Nadler		Democratic		nowrap	November 3, 1992 – January 3, 1993	Elected to finish Weiss's term. Redistricted to the 8th district.
Eliot Engel	Democratic	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2013		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the .
2003–2013 Parts of the Bronx, Rockland, Westchester counties
align=left	Nita Lowey		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired.	2013–2023 Rockland, parts of Westchester County
align=left	Mondaire Jones		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023		Elected in 2020. Ran in the and lost renomination.	2013–2023 Rockland, parts of Westchester County
align=left	Mike Lawler		Republican	January 3, 2023 – present	118th	Elected in 2022.	2023–2025 Rockland, parts of Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester counties
2025–present Rockland, parts of Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester counties -->

Election results

Note that in New York State electoral politics there are numerous minor parties at various points on the political spectrum. Certain parties will invariably endorse either the Republican or Democratic candidate for every office, hence the state electoral results contain both the party votes, and the final candidate votes (Listed as "Recap").

References

Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. 1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. 1982. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
2004 House election data Clerk of the House of Representatives
2002 House election data "
2000 House election data "
1998 House election data "
1996 House election data "

Notes and References

Web site: My Congressional District.
Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022 . en.
News: Bowman . Bridget . October 10, 2019 . Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey announces retirement . . Washington, DC . October 10, 2019 .
Web site: House Dem campaign chief Maloney concedes defeat in New York . 2022-11-09 . POLITICO . en.
Web site: Kornbluh . Jacob . 2022-08-16 . Sean Patrick Maloney locks in Jewish support in a competitive reelection bid for upstate New York seat . 2022-11-28 . The Forward . en.
Register. limited. jacobkornbluh. 1587896038475845633 . 2022-11-28 . en.