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Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi of New York’s 3rd District gives a thumbs up as he celebrates his victory at an election night party after a special election to fill the vacancy created by the ouster of Republican George Santos from Congress in Woodbury, New York. Mr. , February 13, 2024.Photo by Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Live results: New York special election to replace George Santos
Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York on Tuesday, taking the lead in a politically mixed suburban district and raising the party’s hopes for a competitive presidential race later this year. there is a possibility.
Mr. Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip to take the seat vacated by the expulsion of fellow Republican George Santos from Congress. The victory marks a return to Washington for Suozzi, who gave up his bid for governor after three terms as the district’s representative.
It is unclear how long his next term on Capitol Hill will last as a redistricting process that could reshape districts is unfolding. But for now, the result will shrink the already slim Republican majority in the House. And it gave Democrats a long-awaited victory in New York City’s Long Island suburbs, where Republicans have shown surprising strength in recent elections.
read more: Democrats maintain a majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with a partisan split of 102-100.
Suozzi’s victory speech, which emphasized bipartisan cooperation, a campaign theme, was briefly interrupted by demonstrators criticizing his support for Israel.
He acknowledged the protesters and said: “There is a division in this country where people can’t even talk to each other. All they can do is scream at each other.” “That’s not the answer to the problems we face in this country. The answer is to bring people together and try to find common ground.”
“The way we make our country a better place is by trying to find common ground. It’s not easy, and it’s difficult,” Suozzi told supporters at an election night party in Woodbury. ” he said.
Suozzi’s victory is likely to reassure Democrats that they can perform well in suburban areas across the country, which is critical to the party’s efforts to take control of the House and reelect President Joe Biden. becomes important.
Still, low turnout is already expected given the shortened campaign and could be hampered by a storm that dumped several inches of snow on the precinct on Election Day. predictions can be complex. Both sides offered voters free rides to polling places while wet, slushy snow was cleared from the roads.
In the short term, this result could contribute to an extremely close race in the House, with Republicans holding a slim 219-212 majority. In an example of how important one seat can be, House Republicans voted Tuesday night to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by a single vote and punish the Biden administration over its border policies.
read more: Is George Santos’ succession battle a foreshadowing?
Earlier in the day at a Long Island polling place, Eliezer Salias, 59, said he voted for Suozzi because the former congressman was able to work with opposition parties to reach a deal and break the deadlock in Congress. He said that’s because it is.
“Voters elect officials to carry out specific functions, and the Legislature has had a really sluggish year,” Salias said after voting at Levittown Middle School. “Even if we’re thinking about immigration right now, we had bipartisan agreement in Congress and all of a sudden that evaporated. Why? Do we really need to wait until we have another president? Or are the issues that are pressing for everyone at this moment unimportant?”
During his campaign, Mr. Suozzi, a political centrist, leaned into some of the same issues that Republicans have used to bash Democrats, including tightening U.S. border policies and detaining criminal suspects while they wait for judges to do so. They called for the repeal of a New York state law that makes it tougher. trial.
The unusual mid-winter election was necessitated after Santos was ousted by his colleagues in December midway through his first term.
Mr. Santos was a solid Democratic ticket, in part because he falsely portrayed the success story of an American son of working-class immigrants who became a wealthy Wall Street trader. However, many elements of Mr. Santos’ life were later exposed as fabrications, and he was indicted on multiple charges, including charges of stealing funds from Republican donors. He pleaded not guilty.
With no time left for a primary election before the special election, Democrats nominated Suozzi, a political centrist well known to voters in the district.
Republican leaders took notice of Pilip. Pilip was a relatively unknown candidate with a unique background. Born in Ethiopia, she immigrated to Israel as part of Operation Solomon, and after serving in the Israel Defense Forces, she eventually immigrated to the United States, where she won a seat on the Nassau County Council in 2021.
Pillip said he conceded the race and congratulated Suozzi in a phone call Tuesday night.
“Yes, we lost, but that doesn’t mean it’s over,” Pilip told supporters at an election observation party.
Biden’s campaign manager was quick to connect the victory to the next presidential election.
Biden-Harris 2024 campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said, “Donald Trump lost again tonight.When Republicans pursue Trump’s extreme policies, voters reject them, even in Republican-held seats.” “I will.”
read more: What you need to know about the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas
The brief campaign was dominated by issues such as abortion, immigration and crime, which are expected to shape key suburban races across the country in this year’s battle for control of Congress.
Despite being a former international immigrant himself, Pilip harshly criticized Suozzi over the influx of asylum seekers into New York City and accused Democrats and Biden of failing to secure the US southern border. did.
Mr. Suozzi, by contrast, spent much of his campaign talking about the need for stronger border policy, pointing to times during his time in Congress when he opposed his own party on the issue. In the final part, Suozzi said he supports temporarily closing the border to reduce the number of people entering the country, similar to Biden’s comments.
Suozzi hit back at Pilip on abortion, saying he can’t be trusted to protect abortion rights in places like New York where it’s still legal.
Pillip said that while she personally opposes abortion, she would not force her beliefs on others and would oppose attempts by Congress to ban it nationwide. She also said the abortion pill mifepristone should be available nationwide.
read more: House Republicans are struggling with the vacant seat. Would holding special elections for Santos and McCarthy’s seats help?
Both candidates have expressed unwavering support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas, sometimes appearing side-by-side in an unusual joint event aimed at conveying unity.
Democrats and Republicans will have a chance to contest the seat again in November’s general election, but the battleground could be different.
Under court order, the state’s congressional districts will be redrawn again in the coming months. Democrats, who control state government, are widely expected to try to chart a path more favorable to their candidates.
New York City is expected to play a big role in determining this year’s legislative leadership, with multiple contests competing in a ring of suburbs and exurbs around New York City.
Associated Press writer Philip Marcello in Levittown contributed.
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