On Wednesday morning, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) conceded to his Republican opponent, Mike Lawler. Maloney also served as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). With his loss, he becomes the first DCCC chairman to lose the general election since Jim Corman lost in 1980.
CONFIRMED: @RepSeanMaloney has called @lawler4ny to concede the race in New York's 17th Congressional District.
— Mychael Schnell (@mychaelschnell) November 9, 2022
House GOP eyed this race with hopes of toppling the Dems' campaign chief. According to NYT, Lawler leads SPM by 1.2% with >95% reported.
NEW in #NY17: Mike Lawler’s campaign says DCCC Chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney has conceded to him in a call.
— aaron navarro (@aaronlarnavarro) November 9, 2022
While several races are still being called in the House and Senate, it's clear that Republicans performed well below expectations. This makes the loss for a DCCC chairman even more stunning, should it turn out that his party indeed holds control of the House.
I'm going to freaking laugh so hard if Dems somehow retain their House majority, and Sean Patrick Maloney, the DCCC chair, isn't part of it. pic.twitter.com/Nw110VGDEG
— Ethan C7 (@ECaliberSeven) November 9, 2022
The Congressional Leadership Institute (CLF) also released a statement on Wednesday from their president, Dan Conston. "Congratulations to Mike Lawler for pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the cycle," he said. "Democrats thought we were bluffing, but we knew all along that Mike had what it took to win. Sean Patrick Maloney’s hubris got the best of him and we are proud to have played a decisive role in this victory."
When it comes to that mention of "bluffing," Conston isn't kidding. When CLF announced in April that they would be spending money win the race, Maloney accused the group of "lighting money on fire" and confidently claimed that the DCCC wouldn't need top spend money saving him. The DCCC did, in fact, spend money to do so, and it does not appear to have paid off.
https://t.co/tSTAvqaz9V pic.twitter.com/7CtVWzYsI6
— Congressional Leadership Fund (@CLFSuperPAC) November 9, 2022
🔵 → 🔴
— Congressional Leadership Fund (@CLFSuperPAC) November 9, 2022
Congrats to @lawler4ny on defeating @DCCC Chair @spmaloney in #NY17! 🎉
We are thrilled to welcome an outstanding leader like Mike to Congress & were proud to play a decisive role in Mike’s huge win!
Statement from CLF President @DanConston: https://t.co/rOy5iORXBc pic.twitter.com/MzJ9fiiRlH
According to a press release from CLF, they spent $8.2 million on this seat.
Hubris, as Conston's statement mentioned, is indeed the name of the game. In addition to being overconfident about this race, Rep. Maloney came under fire for rushing to run in the 17th Congressional District.
The House primary race in New York was thrown into chaos, after courts threw out blatantly unconstitutional maps that were challenged in lawsuits. State Democrats had no-one to blame but themselves for putting forth such gerrymandered maps, though. Maloney's move forced Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY), a freshman squad member, to run in the 10th Congressional District, bringing about cries of racism as Jones is black. Jones also lost his seat, ultimately coming in third in the primary.
In addition to "Maloney" trending on Twitter, so is "DCCC" and "Mondaire Jones," with the latter trend indicating people haven't forgotten what the congressman did.
No one to blame but himself. Jumping districts, screwing Mondaire Jones, and still can’t hold a solid Biden district. https://t.co/PaQl5fag92
— Krystal Ball (@krystalball) November 9, 2022
The Chairman of the DCCC, the consummately scummy DC insider @RepSeanMaloney, forced a much more interesting and exciting incumbent out of his district (@MondaireJones), only to then lose the district. It's always good when slimy, swampy backroom operators like Maloney lose. https://t.co/df9xtyZ72L
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 9, 2022
Sean Patrick Maloney evicted Mondaire Jones from his district, lost, and could well have cost his party 2 House seats. Maybe not have a guy with terrible political judgment and no team spirit the DCCC Chair?
— Joseph O'Neill (@JosephONeillx) November 9, 2022
If Sean Patrick Maloney loses in NY, after driving Mondaire Jones out of his own district and prioritizing petty short-term political games over the needs of voters, well, that's just a shame isn't it.
— Max Burns (@themaxburns) November 9, 2022
Trouble truly began brewing for Maloney late last month, when Cook Political Report changed their forecast to a "Toss Up."
When it comes to the New York congressional races, it's worth mentioning that although Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) did not win his gubernatorial race against Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), it does look like what success he did have may have helped down ballot races.
God bless @leezeldin. Seriously — the guy ran a hell of a raise in deep blue NEW YORK and he carried downballot Republicans across the finish line as a result. And he did not stray from his values.
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) November 9, 2022
More of this, please.
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