Mondaire Jones

Mondaire L. Jones (born May 18, 1987) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the U.S. representative for NY's 17th congressional district from 2021 to 2023. Jones, a member of the Democratic Party, became one of the two first openly gay Black members of Congress in history. He was known as a rising star in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Jones was born in Nyack, New York, and grew up in Spring Valley, New York, under the care of a single mother. In 2022, Jones ran for election in New York's 10th district but lost in the Democratic primary. However, in July 2023, he announced his intention to seek re-election in NY's 17th congressional district in the following year.