How did Tom Suozzi win the NY-3 special election in 2024?

Tom Suozzi won the February 2024 special election in New York's 3rd Congressional District by defeating Republican Mazi Pilip by roughly 8 percentage points, 54% to 46%. The seat had been vacated when Rep. George Santos was expelled from Congress in December 2023 following revelations about his fabricated biography and allegations of fraud. Suozzi, who had previously represented the adjacent NY-3 district before leaving to run for governor in 2022, ran a campaign focused on immigration reform (positioning himself as a moderate on border security), cost-of-living issues, and preserving the SALT deduction important to Long Island homeowners. His victory was seen as significant for Democrats at a moment of concern about their standing with suburban voters, and was interpreted as evidence that a moderate, pragmatic Democratic message could still win in competitive Long Island suburbs.

What is Tom Suozzi's background and political history before Congress?

Tom Suozzi has deep roots in Long Island politics stretching back to the 1990s. He served as Mayor of Glen Cove from 1994 to 2001, then as Nassau County Executive from 2002 to 2009, where he built a reputation as a fiscal moderate who cut county spending and reformed the notoriously troubled Nassau County finances. He was first elected to Congress in 2016, representing New York's 3rd district which covers parts of Nassau and Queens counties. In 2022, he left his congressional seat to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, losing the primary to Kathy Hochul. He returned to political relevance when the NY-3 special election opportunity arose in early 2024 following Santos's expulsion. His experience as county executive gives him genuine executive credentials that distinguish him from most House members.

How competitive is NY-3 in 2026 and what are Tom Suozzi's prospects?

New York's 3rd Congressional District covers parts of Nassau County and northeastern Queens, a suburban area that has become increasingly competitive as the Long Island suburbs have shifted toward Republicans on cost-of-living concerns. The district's Cook Political Report rating hovers around D+2, making it genuinely competitive. Suozzi's 8-point special election win was strong, but special elections often overperform for the winning party; regular elections in 2026 will be harder. Republicans have identified NY-3 as a must-win to bolster their House majority. Suozzi's moderate positioning on issues like immigration and SALT, combined with his strong local brand and executive experience, make him a competitive incumbent, but Long Island's rightward trend means he cannot rely on partisan advantage alone.

Tom Suozzi: Positions, Polling & 2026 | USPollingData

~50%

Favorable in NY-3

Combined Years in Congress

D+2

District PVI (NY-3)

Nov 2026

Next Election — Competitive

Career Timeline

Year	Role / Event	Notes
1994–2001	Mayor of Glen Cove, NY	First elected office; moderate fiscal Democrat; improved city finances
2002–2009	Nassau County Executive	Reformed county finances; built bipartisan reputation; cut spending
2016–2022	U.S. Representative (NY-3, 1st stint)	Three terms; focused on SALT, veterans, bipartisan tax issues; member of Problem Solvers Caucus
2022	Lost NY Governor Primary	Ran against Kathy Hochul as a moderate alternative; finished 3rd; left his House seat
Feb 2024	Won NY-3 Special Election	+8 pts over Mazi Pilip (R); seat vacant after George Santos expelled; moderate immigration pitch

Key Findings

Tom Suozzi (D-NY) won back his NY-3 seat in a February 2024 special election after Democrat George Santos was expelled — flipping back a seat Republicans had stolen from Democrats in 2022.
NY-3 is Biden +8 — covering Nassau County and parts of Queens on Long Island, it is a competitive suburban district that Suozzi has now won twice with a focus on local tax issues and bipartisan governance.
He ran for New York governor in the 2022 Democratic primary before losing to Kathy Hochul, returning to the House when Santos's expulsion created an opening in the district he had previously represented.
Suozzi is a centrist Democrat with a background as Nassau County Executive — he focuses on the SALT tax deduction (critical for high-tax New York homeowners), immigration enforcement, and fiscal discipline.

Key Policy Positions

Issue	Suozzi's Stance	District Polling
Immigration	Moderate; supports bipartisan border security bill; separates from progressive wing	Stricter enforcement preferred in NY-3 — strategic positioning
SALT Deduction	Strongly supports restoring full SALT deduction; top local issue for NY homeowners	Key issue for Long Island suburban homeowners — strongly aligned
Fiscal Policy	Fiscal moderate; supports deficit reduction alongside targeted investment	Resonates with affluent suburban NY-3 constituency
Abortion Rights	Supports federal abortion rights protections; key D advantage issue	Majority support in NY-3 — aligned
Gun Safety	Supports universal background checks and red flag laws	Supported by suburban NY voters
Israel / Foreign Policy	Strong Israel supporter; backed military aid; important given NY-3 Jewish electorate	Key issue for Jewish community in district — well-positioned

Background

Thomas Richard Suozzi was born on August 31, 1962, in Glen Cove, New York, to a family of Italian-American heritage. He earned his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his law degree from Fordham University School of Law, building a career as a local attorney before entering politics. He married Helene Johansson in 1994; they have three children. His entire political career has been rooted in Long Island local government, giving him an authentic connection to the suburban concerns that define his district: property taxes, commuting infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life. He is a practicing Catholic and his moderate politics reflect both his faith and the pragmatic center of Long Island's political culture, which has been shifting from Democratic-leaning to genuinely competitive over the past decade.

Legislative Record

Suozzi has been a consistent member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of House Democrats and Republicans who work on compromise legislation. He has focused heavily on the SALT deduction restoration, which affects Long Island homeowners who pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation and whose federal tax bills increased after the 2017 SALT cap of $10,000. He has also worked on veterans affairs, transportation infrastructure for the Long Island Rail Road and related systems, and healthcare costs. During his special-election campaign, he proposed a specific bipartisan border security bill as evidence that Democrats could address immigration concerns seriously — a positioning that drew positive coverage and helped him win in a district where immigration was the top voter issue.

2026 Context

NY-3 will be one of the most-watched House races of 2026. The district was won by Republicans in 2022 (with Santos) and by Suozzi in 2024, reflecting genuine volatility. Republicans need to hold their House majority and will target this seat aggressively. Suozzi's strongest arguments for re-election are his local name recognition, bipartisan credibility, and moderate positioning that distinguishes him from progressive Democrats who struggle on Long Island. His work on SALT and immigration gives him tangible local issues. Risks include national Democratic headwinds, the challenge of holding a seat that has shifted rightward on cultural issues, and the reality that a well-funded Republican challenger in a national environment could overcome his incumbency advantage. He is widely viewed as a slight favorite but vulnerable.