Democrat Tom Suozzi has won a special election to replace former Republican Representative George Santos, who was expelled from the House in December. Suozzi’s victory further reduces the GOP’s slim majority in the House, with Democrats now holding 213 seats to Republicans’ 219. With three more seats currently vacant, if Democrats win all three in upcoming special elections, they will only need to flip four more seats in November to regain control of the chamber.
Suozzi, who previously held New York’s 3rd District for three terms before an unsuccessful run for governor in 2022, had a comfortable lead over Republican Mazi Pilip, winning by a margin of 59-41 with approximately 52% of the vote counted. Republicans launched a series of ads attacking Suozzi on immigration, but Democrats hit back by highlighting Pilip’s opposition to abortion.
In the midterms, Democrats performed poorly in New York, allowing Santos to flip the Long Island-based 3rd District as a political outsider with a fabricated resume. Although party leaders initially protected Santos, he was eventually expelled from Congress after being indicted for fraud, paving the way for Suozzi’s comeback bid. Suozzi received significantly more financial support, with Democratic groups spending a combined total of $13 million to aid his campaign, compared to just $8 million for Pilip. Suozzi also raised more money individually, reporting over $4.7 million compared to Pilip’s $1.4 million.
Suozzi will need to defend his seat again in November, when all 435 districts in the House are up for reelection. However, after Pilip’s failure, Republicans may opt for a different candidate in the June 25 primary for the full term. Republicans will also need to consider whether their message on immigration will be effective in the fall, while Democrats are likely to continue emphasizing reproductive rights as a key issue.
Overall, Suozzi’s victory in the special election has strengthened the Democrats’ position in the House and brings them closer to regaining control of the chamber in November. The race highlighted the ongoing battle between the parties over key policies such as immigration and reproductive rights, which are likely to remain central issues in future elections.
