New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler acknowledged that he darkened his face as part of a Michael Jackson costume, which he called an “homage”, after The New York Times reported that he wore blackface as a college student in 2006.

The images emerged as Lawler, a first-term Republican, is locked in a competitive reelection fight for his congressional seat in New York's Hudson Valley.

The images could be a stumbling block for Lawler in his close re-election race against former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones, who is black, to rep the 17th Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler said he was sorry after the New York Times obtained photos of him wearing blackface about two decades ago at a college Halloween costume party where he dressed as Michael Jackson