Democrat Mondaire Jones has made history as he has been declared the winner of New York's 17th Congressional District race.

Jones will be among the first openly gay Black men elected to Congress.

He is succeeding retiring Rep. Nita Lowey, the first woman to ever chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, to represent New York's 17th Congressional District. The district represents Rockland County and parts of Westchester County.

Jones was born in Nyack and grew up in Spring Valley. He worked in the United States Department of Justice during Barack Obama's presidency.