The Democrats fared well in special elections Tuesday night, as snowy weather in the Northeast caused some uncertainty about turnout.
Former congressman Tom Suozzi won election to a vacant U.S. House seat covering parts of Long Island and Queens, New York. The Democrat prevailed over Republican opponent Mazi Pilip.
At the same time, the Democrats maintained their majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Suozzi reclaims the district he represented for three terms before resigning to mount an unsuccessful campaign for the governorship. His victory Tuesday narrows Republicans’ slim majority in the closely divided House.
The House seat became vacant last year after the expulsion of Republican George Santos, a serial fabulist under indictment for donor theft. Santos has pleaded not guilty.
In his speech, Suozzi emphasized cooperation despite getting interrupted by protestors. “There are divisions in our country where people can’t even talk to each other. All they can do is yell and scream,” he said. “That’s not the answer.”
“The way to make our country a better place is to try and find common ground. It is not easy to do. It is hard to do,” Suozzi continued. His centrist messaging could hearten Democrats nationwide trying to retain suburban swing districts in the 2024 presidential race.
Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, linked the result to 2024, saying “Donald Trump lost again tonight. When Republicans run on Trump’s extreme agenda – even in a Republican-held seat — voters reject them.”
Trump retorted by calling Pilip “a very foolish woman” for not fully embracing him. He claimed she would have easily won “if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics.”
The unusual winter election came with potentially low turnout, both parties offered voters free rides to vote amidst snowy conditions.
In her concession speech, Pilip said, “Yes we lost, but it doesn’t mean we are going to end here.” The Ethiopian immigrant served in Israel’s military before recently being elected to Nassau County’s legislature.
Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, Democrats retained their state House majority in another closely watched special election. Jim Prokopiak, a former school board member, will represent a trending-blue district outside Philadelphia.
Prokopiak wants to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, preserve abortion access, and increase education budgets. National Democratic groups spent heavily to elect him.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.