New York GOP Seeks To Flip Suozzi’s Seat With Same Candidate They Fielded In 2024

Republicans, hoping to maintain a GOP majority in the House, are teeing up a rematch from 2024 in New York’s third congressional district, a swing seat currently held by moderate Democrat, Tom Suozzi. This challenge is expected to be one of the most closely watched congressional races this year.Former GOP state assemblyman and 2024 congressional candidate, Mike LiPetri, officially jumped in the race on Tuesday, telling The New York Sun he is “the next generation, commonsense Republican who has real skin in the game.” By skin in the game, Mr. LiPetri says he means he’s not a millionaire “career politician” but a millennial struggling to buy a home, who understands and feels the same affordability issues voters do.A 35-year-old attorney and staunch supporter of President Trump, Mr. LiPetri lost to Mr. Suozzi in 2024 by only 3 percentage points. Both the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are targeting this seat as one they must win to retain or take control of the House majority. “We overperformed and we were underfunded,” Mr. LiPetri says of his 2024 race. “We’re now a top targeted seat in the nation that is a priority for not only local Republicans but also DC Republicans.”This year, though, is expected to be tougher for Republicans. The party in power often loses congressional seats in the midterms. President Trump’s approval rating is underwater at only 33 percent in New York State, according to a Siena poll released Tuesday. New York’s third congressional district, which spans Nassau County and parts of Queens and Suffolk County, is one of the wealthiest districts in the country and is rated “Lean Democrat” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. It is one of only thirteen congressional districts that both Mr. Trump and a House Democrat won two years ago.Mr. LiPetri says he expects more money and resources to flow to his campaign this year. He is seeking Mr. Trump’s endorsement. He faces a primary from 55-year-old attorney Gregory Hach, though Mr. LiPetri has the backing of Nassau GOP leaders.Mr. Suozzi is already ahead in financing, with $4.5 million in his reelection war chest. A self-styled moderate and co-chairman of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Mr. Suozzi has increased his national profile in the last year, crossing party lines in critical votes and criticizing then-mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as “a loud wake-up call for the Democratic Party.”This willingness to cross the aisle is putting him in hot water with Democrats of late. Mr. Suozzi was one of only seven Democrats to vote for Department of Homeland Security — and by extension, Immigration Customs and Enforcement — funding last month. Two days after ICE agents shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Mr. Suozzi issued a statement apologizing for his vote.“I failed to view the DHS funding vote as a referendum on the illegal and immoral conduct of ICE in Minneapolis,” Mr. Suozzi wrote. “I hear the anger from many of my constituents, and I take responsibility for that. I have long been critical of ICE’s unlawful behavior and I must do a better job demonstrating that.”This backtracking isn’t sitting well with progressives. Demonstrators affiliated with the group Climate Defiance interrupted Mr. Suozzi last week as he spoke at a synagogue, taunting him with knee pads and an adult diaper to signifying his caving to Mr. Trump. Mr. Suozzi’s office did not return a request for comment.“He’s a 30-year career politician who will say and do anything for self-preservation. Tom is two faced,” Mr. LiPetri says of Mr. Suozzi. “When push comes to shove, he caves.”Mr. LiPetri doesn’t mince words when it comes to his support for Mr. Trump’s immigration enforcement. “I support the deportation of illegal aliens,” he says. On the killing of Mr. Pretti he says, “I think the loss of an American life is always a tragedy, no matter where it’s from.”“For me, most importantly, it’s about remembering all those Americans who were killed by illegal aliens, whether it be Laken Riley or Jocelyn [Nungaray] or Katie [Abraham] or the list goes on. And for me, that’s where the biggest tragedy is,” he says.A plurality of New Yorkers approves of the Trump administration’s handling of the border, according to the Siena poll, but 58 percent disapprove of how it’s handling deportations of illegal immigrants. A slight majority of New Yorkers say Mr. Trump is not making prices more affordable.Despite the polling, Mr. LiPetri says he thinks this year’s race will be more favorable to Republicans on Long Island. When Democrats won last year upstate and across the country in off-year and special elections, Nassau County bucked the trend. Long Island has become a powerhouse for the state’s GOP. Nassau County executive, Bruce Blakeman, is the GOP candidate for governor.This will also be the first year that many local elections are held at the same time as federal ones, due to legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. Higher turnout tends to benefit Republicans, who are lower propensity voters.Mr. LiPetri is running on an affordability message. He says one of the first pieces of legislation he will introduce is to make the costs associated with child rearing, including daycare, baby formula, diapers, and clothing, tax deductible. He doesn’t have children yet, but he says he sees his friends and neighbors struggling to raise families on Long Island. He also supports no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and a five-year moratorium on federal property taxes for first-time homebuyers.“Democrats, particularly my opponent, loses all credibility on affordability when he has stood up and repeatedly advocated for raising federal taxes,” Mr. LiPetri says. “My opponent has a waterfront mansion that he owns. He doesn’t have any skin in the game. He’s done with this. He’s made millions trading stocks.”“I rent and I actually understand how hard it is to own a home,” he says. “That’s why I have skin in the game.”

New York GOP Seeks To Flip Suozzi’s Seat With Same Candidate They Fielded In 2024

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