Democrats pick ex-Rep. Tom Suozzi to run for former Santos seat

Suozzi previously held the seat for three terms before running unsuccessfully against Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary in 2022.

New York Democrats are betting on former Rep. Tom Suozzi to flip the newly vacant seat recently held by disgraced former Republican Rep. George Santos from red back to blue.

Nassau County and state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs and Queens County Democratic Party Chair Rep. Greg Meeks announced the decision in a Thursday afternoon press release, touting Suozzi’s deep roots in the 3rd Congressional District, which spans parts of northeast Queens and Long Island.

Suozzi previously held the seat for three terms before giving it up to run unsuccessfully against Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary in 2022.

“Tom Suozzi has a proven record of fighting for his constituents, fighting to safeguard our suburban way of life here on Long Island and Queens and always advocating for sensible solutions to the real challenges affecting everyday average Americans,” Jacobs and Meeks said in a joint statement.

Shortly after the announcement, Suozzi shared a statement on social media that stressed his commitment to the district and what he believes is at stake in the upcoming special election.

“The folks from Massapequa and Levittown to the North Shore of Nassau to northeast Queens deserve better,” Suozzi said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I will work day and night with both parties to deliver for the people, to make living here more affordable, safer and better.”

“I delivered for this district before, and I will do it again by putting you ahead of partisanship,” he added.

Anna Kaplan, a former state senator who had been running to represent the district, said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that she would suspend her campaign and throw her support behind Suozzi.

"We need to start 2024 off right, and that means electing Tom Suozzi to flip this seat and get Democrats closer to the majority," she said.

Still, Suozzi’s bid comes with some baggage.

His frosty relationship with Hochul was well known among state Democrats after last year's bitter primary, during which he lobbed personal attacks against the governor.

Ahead of the announcement, Hochul on Monday summoned Suozzi to Albany, where she reportedly extracted policy promises and an apology. The meeting was first reported by the New York Times.

Hochul called the meeting productive in her remarks to reporters on Wednesday.

“I wanted an opportunity to talk directly about what his plan was and how he would run his race,” she said at an unrelated event in the Bronx.

As the leader of the state’s Democratic Party, Hochul said her top priority is ensuring that Democrats regain control “from the Santos-type Republican Party” and make House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries the speaker of the House.

Hochul also said she wanted assurances that Suozzi had the poll numbers and strategy necessary to win the race, and sought his commitment that he would “run a race that understands that the opponents are Republicans in Washington,” as opposed to fellow New York Democrats.

Brian Lenzmeier, a spokesperson for Hochul's campaign, noted in a statement this week that the governor also received policy commitments from Suozzi on key issues, including support for abortion access, before she agreed to support his candidacy.

Even before his selection was official, Suozzi began amassing critical support from labor unions, including endorsements from the influential Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, as well as 11 mayors from localities within the district.

Those endorsements are likely to provide crucial support on the ground.

Republicans have not yet announced their candidate, though Mike Deery, a spokesperson for the Nassau County GOP, said the party expected to announce its selection early next week.

The special election is set for Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.