Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi claimed victory late Tuesday and is expected to retain control of disgraced former GOP congressman George Santos’ old seat on Long Island.
Suozzi carried 52% of votes, while his Republican challenger Michael LiPetri Jr. snagging 48%, with 84% of expected ballots tallied as of 12:14 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
“I think that we all recognize that the people of the United States of America and the people of my congressional district are sick of extremism,” Suozzi told supporters gathered at the Garden City Hotel in Nassau County.
“They’re sick of people attacking each other all the time. They want us to work together and get things done and that’s the only reason I won this race because the people are resonating with that message,” he said.
The District 3 seat covering parts of Long Island and Queens had once been held by Santos, who became the sixth House member to be expelled from the chamber after a scathing ethics report.
Before Santo’s 2022 election, Suozzi held the seat but opted instead for an unsuccessful gubernatorial run.
Suozzi took it back during a special election in February and aimed to seal a full two-year term against a challenge from LiPetri, a former state senator.
House Republicans tried in vain to tank Suozzi’s reelection bid by focusing on his ties to Mayor Eric Adams, calling them “two birds of a feather.”
Ahead of polls closing, Suozzi felt confident he’d keep his seat, a source close to his campaign told The Post.
“They threw millions and millions attacking him during the special, he didn’t change his message, it’s what it has always been. He won by 8 points,” the source said.
