A huge House special election Tuesday in New York’s suburbs could help decide the balance of power on the U.S. House. Former Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, is facing Republican county legislator Mazi Pilip for a vacant seat.
The race to replace disgraced congressman George Santos is seen by experts as an early test of the looming 2024 presidential election.
According to The Associated Press –
The unusual midwinter election became necessary after Santos was ousted by his colleagues in December, partway through his first term. Santos won office in what had been a reliably Democratic district partly by falsely portraying himself as an American success story — a son of working class immigrants who made himself into a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker.
But many elements of Santos’ life story were later exposed as fabrications, and he was indicted on multiple charges, including allegations he stole money from Republican donors. He has pleaded not guilty.
Suozzi is distancing himself from the Biden administration’s progressive policy to court the district’s centrists, stating: “They see that, first of all I’m a very strong candidate. My proven record as a county legislator. My own story is very strong.”
Meanwhile, Republican Pilip has hammered Democrats over illegal immigration policy failures. She advocates strict border security, and warns that Democratic leaders “are very nervous.”
Pilip’s background makes it difficult for Democrats – she immigrated legally as a child refugee from Ethiopia before serving in Israel’s military.
Democrats have spent heavily in the race, hoping to flip this recently reliable GOP region. But off-cycle timing and a winter storm Tuesday may still limit turnout.
Democrats are expected to use abortion rights as an offensive issue in suburban areas, and are testing that playbook in New York.
Republicans, in turn, have put out-of-control illegal immigration policy on trial, linking Democrats to the current U.S.-Mexico border crisis.
The race will determine who serves the remaining months of disgraced congressman Santos’ term after he was removed from the House. Santos admitted making up basic biographical details, which drew federal fraud charges and rare expulsion by the House.
The Horn editorial team