Mondaire Jones
Mondaire Lamar Jones[1] (born May 18, 1987[2]) is an American lawyer and politician who was the U.S. representative for New York's 17th congressional district from 2021 to 2023. The district included most of central and northwestern Westchester County and all of Rockland County. A member of the Democratic Party, Jones is one of the two first openly gay Black members of Congress in history.[3]
Mondaire Jones
May 18, 1987
Nyack, New York, U.S.
As a member of Congress, Jones was described as a rising star on the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.[4] After redistricting, he sought election in 2022 in New York's 10th congressional district after DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney chose to run in NY 17. Maloney lost in the general election to Republican Mike Lawler. Jones lost the Democratic primary in NY 10 to attorney Dan Goldman, who went on to win the seat in the general election.[5] In July 2023, Jones announced that he would seek election to his former seat in NY 17 in the following year.[6]
Early life and career[edit]
Jones was born in Nyack, New York, and grew up in Spring Valley, New York, where he was raised by a single mother,[7] who worked multiple jobs to support him, and his grandparents.[8][9] He graduated from public schools in the East Ramapo Central School District.[10] He earned his bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 2009. After graduating from Stanford, Jones worked in the U.S. Department of Justice during the presidency of Barack Obama.[11][12] He then earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 2013.[13][14]
After law school, Jones worked as a law clerk for Andrew L. Carter Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He also worked for Davis Polk & Wardwell for four years,[15] and one year with the Westchester County Law Department.[16][17]
After Congress[edit]
Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Mondaire to the United States Commission on Civil Rights on January 3, 2023.[52][53] Later in January 2023, he joined CNN as an on-air contributor.[54] In August 2023, Mondaire Jones reported a salaried posistion with Future Forward USA Action, a left leaning 501(c)(4) organization that was started and led by Chauncey Mclean.[55][56]
Personal life[edit]
Jones came out as gay when he was 24.[11][12] He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Spring Valley.[57]
In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first gay Pride parade, Queerty named Jones among the 50 people "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people."[58][59]