Mondaire Jones Faces Major Backlash Over Push to Allow Violent Criminals to Vote From Prison

As former Rep. Mondaire Jones seeks to reclaim his seat in New York's 17th Congressional District, he is under intense scrutiny for his prior legislative efforts to expand voting rights to incarcerated individuals, including those convicted of violent crimes. This controversy is rapidly becoming a focal point in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested race against Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler.

Jones, who previously represented the district before a failed bid in a redrawn Manhattan seat, has been criticized for championing an amendment in 2021 that sought to allow all prisoners, regardless of their crimes, to vote while still serving their sentences. The amendment, which was part of the broader "For the People Act," was co-authored by Jones and fellow progressive Rep. Cori Bush. It was ultimately defeated in the House by a wide margin, including opposition from several Democrats.

The backlash against Jones has intensified as he campaigns to unseat Lawler, who has made crime and public safety central themes of his tenure and re-election campaign. Lawler’s campaign has seized on Jones’s past advocacy, portraying him as dangerously out of touch with the values of the Hudson Valley. In a recent statement, Lawler's campaign described Jones as an "extremist" who would prioritize the rights of criminals over the safety and security of law-abiding citizens.

"Extremist Mondaire Jones is so radical that he wants to let cop-killers, child rapists, and murderers vote from prison," said Chris Russell, a spokesman for the Lawler campaign. Russell emphasized that Jones's actions were part of a broader pattern of "divisive, extreme ideology" that voters should reject​.

Lawler's criticisms have found strong support among law enforcement groups in the region. Various police unions, including the NYC Sergeants Benevolent Association and the Rockland County Police Benevolent Association, have voiced their opposition to Jones's candidacy. These groups argue that allowing violent criminals to vote from prison would be an affront to the victims and their families. They also highlight the specific case of the 1981 Brink's robbery in Rockland County, where several law enforcement officers were killed, as an example of the type of criminals who would benefit from Jones's proposed changes.

“It’s appalling that former Congressman Mondaire Jones believes convicted felons, including cop-killers and murderers, deserve the right to vote from prison,” said Larry Ayers, President of the Rockland County PBA. He pointed out that if Jones’s amendment had passed, it would have allowed the individuals convicted in the Brink's robbery, as well as other notorious criminals, to vote from behind bars​.

Jones has defended his position by framing it as a civil rights issue. He has argued that denying voting rights to incarcerated individuals, particularly minorities who are disproportionately represented in the prison population, perpetuates systemic racism and amounts to a modern form of slavery. Despite the backlash, Jones has not backed away from his stance, stating that the current laws are unjust and that reform is necessary to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their incarceration status, have a voice in the democratic process.

However, this stance is likely to remain a point of contention in the upcoming election. With President Joe Biden also on the ballot in 2024 and the district’s voters historically leaning Democratic, the outcome of the race could hinge on how voters perceive Jones's record on crime and criminal justice reform. Lawler’s campaign is betting that highlighting Jones's perceived radicalism will resonate with voters who are concerned about public safety and crime.

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