Mike Sacks, a former TV political reporter and lawyer, isn’t mincing words in his bid for Congress. Launching his campaign for New York’s 17th Congressional District, Sacks declared his mission loud and clear: “It’s time to un-f*ck our country.”
In a campaign video posted Wednesday morning, Sacks painted a bleak picture of American politics, blaming entrenched special interests and GOP extremism for the country’s unraveling. “We can’t do the same old thing with the same old people,” he said. “Stand up for something. Back it up. Really fight for the middle class.”
Sacks, who covered politics and legal affairs for outlets like Fox 5 New York, HuffPost, and The New York Times, now wants to flip one of the most closely watched swing districts in the nation — currently held by Republican Rep. Mike Lawler.
A District at the Crossroads
New York’s 17th District — a politically diverse slice of the Hudson Valley — has become a symbol of the high-stakes struggle for the House. Lawler narrowly defeated Democrat Mondaire Jones in 2024, winning with just over 52% of the vote in a race shadowed by rising GOP influence and national Democratic malaise.
“Lawler’s win wasn’t a mandate. It was a wake-up call,” said Sasha Rivera, a progressive organizer in Rockland County. “People are fed up, but they want a fighter, not a placeholder.”
Sacks is positioning himself as exactly that — a political outsider with insider knowledge, a storyteller turned truth-teller. His campaign slogan, “Un-F*ck Our Country,” is already lighting up social media — brash, blunt, and clearly aimed at disaffected voters sick of political theater and corporate double-speak.
From Law Books to News Desks — Now to Congress?
Before his career on camera, Sacks earned his law degree and worked in legal journalism. “I covered the courts, I covered Congress. I’ve seen how broken it is — and how it’s rigged for billionaires,” he says in his campaign bio.
His platform leans into Democratic priorities: protecting Medicare and Social Security, defending democracy, expanding access to health care, and reining in corporate influence. His campaign also criticizes “politicians who talk tough on TV but vote with MAGA extremists in Congress.”
Sacks joins a growing list of Democratic challengers targeting vulnerable Republican-held districts. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) recently listed Lawler’s seat as one of its top 35 targets for 2026.
Lawler: Loyal to Constituents — or to Trump’s Power Game?
Rep. Mike Lawler, a relatively fresh face in the GOP, has worked hard to paint himself as a moderate. But critics say his record tells a different story.
“He talks like a centrist back home, but votes like a foot soldier for Trump in Washington,” said Democratic strategist Olivia Grant. “He’s playing both sides — and voters are catching on.”
Lawler has also hinted at a potential 2026 gubernatorial run — a move that could vacate his House seat and give Democrats a better shot at flipping it. Meanwhile, internal Republican dynamics remain volatile. Trump recently pulled the plug on Rep. Elise Stefanik’s UN ambassador nomination to avoid jeopardizing the GOP’s razor-thin House majority.
Democrats Face Their Own Storm
While Sacks enters the race with energy, his party faces headwinds. Democratic approval ratings sank to just 29% in March, according to a CNN poll. Frustration with the Biden administration, economic uncertainty, and intraparty gridlock have dampened enthusiasm across key demographics.
Still, Democrats are banking on the appeal of fresh candidates like Sacks to reenergize their base. “People are sick of both-sides politics,” said Sacks. “We need leaders who actually believe in democracy — and are willing to fight like hell to save it.”
BOTTOM LINE:
Mike Sacks isn’t your typical congressional candidate. He’s fiery, unfiltered, and focused on restoring trust in democracy. In a battleground district that could help decide control of the House in 2026, this race just got a lot more interesting.
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You can tell by his comment , unf—— America he is nothing but an loud mouth ass for the woke agenda
Democrats are THE DARK SIDE !
America needs some young blood your government is full of rich old men .Trump has made a joke of your country it was a great country and most people our good
Hey Anonymous The making America a joke was not Trump but you two brothers Joe and the Kenyan Obama. Just as I thought yo suffer from TDS which comes from drinking to much Biden’s Kool Aid. Put on a uniform and serve in combat and if you survive go back to school and take a course in REAL American history not the woke kind.