WOODBURY, N.Y. — Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi is returning to the House of Representatives after he won the special election in New York’s 3rd District to replace the expelled former Republican Rep. George Santos on Tuesday.
Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip with nearly 58 percent of the vote. He could be sworn into Congress as early as Thursday, according to a source.
“Despite all the lies about Tom Suozzi and the Squad, about Tom Suozzi being the godfather of the migrant crisis, about ‘Sanctuary Suozzi,’ despite the dirty tricks, despite the vaunted Nassau County Republican machine: We won,” Suozzi told supporters at his victory party.
The victory cuts Republicans’ already razor-thin House majority by one seat, making governing a bit more difficult for House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Suozzi’s speech was interrupted twice by protesters who accused him of supporting “genocide” in Gaza. The protesters were later removed.
The win is bad news for House Republicans, who have already struggled to pass meaningful legislation. Once Suozzi is sworn in, Republicans will only be allowed to lose two votes to advance GOP legislation.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden called Suozzi to congratulate him on his victory.
“Donald Trump lost again tonight. When Republicans run on Trump’s extreme agenda – even in a Republican-held seat – voters reject them,” Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, said in a statement.
“Joe Biden won this district by 8 points, Democrats outspent Republicans two-to-one, and our Democrat opponent spent decades representing these New Yorkers — yet it was still a dogfight. Republicans still have multiple pathways to grow our majority in November,” NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said in a statement.
“Let’s just say the quiet part out loud. Donald Trump continues to be a huge weight against Republican candidates. Despite the enormous and obvious failings of Joe Biden, we just lost another winnable Republican House seat because voters overwhelmingly reject Donald Trump,” Nikki Haley added.
