Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Maloney concedes in historic House loss

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NY Republican Mike Lawler snatches House seat from DCCC chairman

New York Republican Rep.-elect Mike Lawler says ‘people wanted change’ and that redistricting gave him the ‘opportunity’ to win, beating House Democratic campaign chief Sean Maloney.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney conceded Wednesday in a historic House loss.

At a press conference, Maloney said he called Republican candidate Mike Lawler and congratulated him on a "good win" in New York's 17th Congressional District.

Maloney's loss is the first by a sitting House campaign committee chair since 1992, according to the Cook Political Report. 

Maloney, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chairman and member of Congress since 2012, sought re-election this fall in hopes of maintaining his seat in New York's 17th Congressional District against Lawler. 

Lawler serves in the New York State Assembly and is a partner at Checkmate Strategies, a communications and campaign consulting firm.

U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., speaks to a reporter before an event in Armonk, N.Y., on Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

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During an Oct. 12 debate, the two candidates sparred on issues ranging from the economy to abortion. Lawler attacked the Inflation Reduction Act — which Maloney voted for — and promised to vote to cut back on government spending. Meanwhile, Maloney doubled down on his support for the bill, citing its prescription drug price caps and Medicare provisions. 

Lawler expressed his opposition to a national abortion ban, expressing that while he is pro-life, he believes in exceptions for incest, rape and life of the mother. 

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Maloney, on the other hand, is strongly pro-choice. He co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022, which sought to codify and even expand a right to abortion as protected under the Supreme Court's precedent in Roe v. Wade, which has now been overturned.

Assemblyman and Republican candidate for the 17th Congressional District Mike Lawler (Reuters)

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The DCCC delivered approximately $600,000 to Maloney’s campaign to fund the congressman’s ads as his lead over Lawler tightened in the month preceding the midterm election.

Fox News' Alexandra Orbuch contributed to this report.