BREAKING: Jerry Nadler ousts longtime ally Carolyn Maloney from Congress in major primary overhaul for New York Democrats, as House Democrats’ campaign arm battles House-backed challenger AOC
Democratic representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney joined Congress in 1993Maloney’s loss in the newly redrawn 12th District means House Democrats have a leadership hole to fill on the Oversight Committee next yearThe new district includes 60% of Maloney’s current seat and 40% of Nadler’s. In New York’s 17th Congressional District, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney defeated an AOC-backed challenger
New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler defeated veteran Rep. Carolyn Maloney Tuesday night in one of the most important elections Empire State Democrats have seen in years.
Both left-leaning lawmakers are in their 70s, joined Congress in 1993, and both hold valuable committee chairs: Nadler leads the House Judiciary Committee while Maloney chairs the House Oversight panel.
Meanwhile, New York’s 17th congressional district saw left-leaning voters lash out at the progressive wing as the head of the House Democrats’ campaign arm fought a challenger backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney was projected to beat state legislator Alessandra Biaggi in a highly anticipated result.
In District 12, Nadler pulled ahead shortly after the polls closed. What was expected to be a close race was called by several major outlets less than an hour later.
He also won high-profile endorsements from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow New Yorker, and the New York Times editorial group.
‘Well, New York…we did it! I am very grateful for your continued support and trust; I promise to continue fighting for New Yorkers in Congress. Come in!’ Nadler wrote on Twitter after his win.
Maloney had been supported by several humanitarian and pro-abortion organizations.
His loss, likely the end of the 76-year-old’s career in elected office, leaves a power vacuum for Democrats to fill the House Oversight Committee next year.
House Judiciary Speaker Jerry Nadler won his primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District on Tuesday night.
Supporters of US Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) attend an election night rally at Peter Callahan Catering on August 23, 2022 in New York City
There was also 38-year-old progressive attorney Suraj Patel, whose calls for a new generation of leadership nearly saw Maloney land in the old boundaries of New York’s 12th District in 2020.
Patel again came within a few thousand of Maloney’s votes, though his combined totals would still be slightly less than the votes cast for Nadler.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had vowed to remain neutral, finally broke her silence on the race with a lengthy statement congratulating Nadler while saying Maloney would be missed on Capitol Hill.
“House Democrats are grateful for Speaker Maloney’s tenacious leadership. Her longtime public service will be deeply missed by Congress and her constituents and the country,” the California Democrat said Tuesday night .
“Congratulations to Speaker Jerry Nadler for winning the election. For three decades in the House, Speaker Nadler has been a dominant force for freedom and justice: whether protecting our children from gun violence, fighting for civil rights for all or defending our democracy.
Maloney’s loss means House Democrats will have a leadership hole to fill on the Oversight Committee
New York’s new congressional map saw one seat thrown out in the House of Representatives according to the latest census. Among the shake-ups he has caused in the blue fortress are facing Nadler and Maloney.
But the race between the former congressional allies turned poisonous before Tuesday.
Nadler criticized Maloney for his past support for the war in Afghanistan and the Patriot Act, while noting that if he lost New York he would lose his only member of the Jewish Home.
Maloney, in turn, suggested that Nadler might not finish his term due to health reasons and questioned his cognitive abilities.
“I think you should read the New York Post editorial today. They’re calling him senile. They’re citing his debate performance where he couldn’t even remember who he impeached. He said he impeached Bush,” he told NY1 Sunday.
The newly redrawn boundaries of New York’s 12th District include about 60 percent of Maloney’s former territory and 40 percent of Nadler’s.
Nadler’s seat is currently New York’s former 10th Congressional District.
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