OAN’s James Meyers
10:15 AM – Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Former Democrat Representative Tom Suozzi has won the special election in New York’s 3rd District to replace ousted former GOP Representative George Santos.
Suozzi (D-N.Y.), 61, beat out Republican opponent Mazi Pilip (R-N.Y.) on Tuesday night, in what now takes away another seat from Republicans in the House of Representatives.
With 93% of the votes accounted for, Suozzi led Pilip 53.9% to 46.1%.
“We won this race … because we addressed the issues and we found a way to bind our divisions,” Suozzi said during his victory speech to supporters.
“We know this race was fought amidst a closely divided electorate, much like our whole country. This race was centered on immigration and the economy, much like the issues all across our country,” he continued.
Additionally, Suozzi said the voters were sick of bickering and also criticized former President Donald Trump and his allies in Congress.
“Let’s send a message to our friends running Congress these days: Stop running around for Trump and start running the country,” he said. “It’s time to find common ground and start delivering for the people of the United States of America.”
Pilip announced that she congratulated the former Democrat representative on the victory.
“I did call my opponent. I congratulated him,” Pilip told supporters at an election night gathering. “We are fighters. Yes, we lost. But it doesn’t mean we’re going to end here.”
With the latest victory by Suozzi, the Republican majority in the House fell to 219-213, putting the GOP’s grip on the chamber more up in the air.
Santos also commented on the win for Suozzi saying in a post on X Tuesday night “-1.”
The winner also pegged Pilip as another version of George Santos.
“Who knows what she really stands for? She’s George Santos 2.0. It’s the exact same nontransparent, phony baloney, just trying to get votes instead of saying what you really think,” Suozzi charged on the eve of the election.
During the campaign fight, Suozzi made sure to not associate himself with President Joe Biden, claiming that if Biden would have joined him on the campaign trail it would have hurt his campaign.
“The president is underwater in the district,” Suozzi told The Post last week. “I don’t think that Joe Biden campaigning for me would help me.”
Suozzi was first elected to the House in 2016 and won re-election in 2020. He then eventually gave up his seat to launch what would turn out to be an unsuccessful bid for Governor in the Empire State against Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.).
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