With Election Day 2026 underway, US President Donald Trump turned the national spotlight squarely on Rockland County, New York — urging the large Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish community in Monsey to deliver a decisive vote for Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, calling the race a test of commitment to religious freedom, school choice, and the fight against antisemitism.

Trump's Election-Day message to Monsey's Jewish voters

In a lengthy post on X, Trump reminded voters of the 'tremendous support' he received from the Monsey area during his 2024 presidential campaign, framing that loyalty as a reason to show up again. 'The eyes of the Country are on New York again,' he wrote, casting a local House race as a nationally consequential moment.

Trump praised Lawler as 'a tremendous friend to the Jewish community' who has 'stood with the community when it mattered most, speaking out against hatred, and standing up for Religious Freedom and School Choice.' He closed with a direct call to action: 'EVERY VOTE MATTERS. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TODAY. VOTE MIKE LAWLER FOR CONGRESS — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!'

Who is Mike Lawler and why NY-17 matters

Mike Lawler has represented New York's 17th congressional district since 2023, after flipping a seat held by Democratic incumbent Mondaire Jones in the 2022 midterms — a result that underscored shifting suburban and Orthodox Jewish demographics in the lower Hudson Valley. His district spans Rockland County and parts of Westchester County, areas that have trended Republican as Orthodox communities have grown.

Trump also name-checked New York State Senator Bill Weber, who represents the 38th district, urging voters to see the two as a unified local team: 'Working together with your State Senator Bill Weber, Mike will continue to be your voice.'

Antisemitism, school choice, and the Republican pitch to Orthodox communities

Trump's endorsement fits a sustained Republican courtship of Orthodox Jewish voters that accelerated sharply after the surge in antisemitic incidents following October 2023. During his presidency, Trump signed a 2019 executive order extending Title VI civil-rights protections to Jewish students — a move his campaign repeatedly cited to build credibility with this constituency.

School choice — a policy that benefits the dense network of yeshivas and parochial schools in communities like Monsey — has become an equally powerful mobilising issue. Lawler's consistent advocacy on both fronts has helped consolidate support in a district where turnout among Orthodox voters can be decisive.

High-profile, same-day endorsements from Trump have become a deliberate turnout tool in competitive New York seats, designed to convert presidential enthusiasm into down-ballot votes. Whether the formula holds in a midterm environment — and by what margin — will be one of the cleaner tests of Republican strength in the New York suburbs when results come in tonight.