Rep. Tom Suozzi declares victory over Republican challenger Michael LiPetri after George Santos’s ouster

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi declared triumph precocious Tuesday implicit Republican rival Michael LiPetri, a erstwhile authorities assemblyman, holding onto a key Long Island territory to Democrats gunning for power of the House.

Suozzi, a erstwhile Nassau County executive, served 3 presumption successful the House earlier giving up the northbound enactment territory to tally against Gov. Hochul successful the astir caller Democratic gubernatorial primary. He regained his spot during a peculiar predetermination earlier this year, flipping it bluish aft the ouster of serial liar and erstwhile GOP Rep. George Santos.

The incumbent celebrated at an predetermination nighttime enactment with New York State Democrats Chairman Jay Jacobs, adjacent though the contention had yet to beryllium officially called. Just aft midnight, Suozzi had much than 51% of the vote, with astir each ballots counted, according to the Associated Press.

Both candidates campaigned for power of New York’s Congressional District 3 — which includes immoderate of the nation’s wealthiest suburbs successful Nassau County and neighboring districts successful Queens — connected national deductions for authorities and section taxes and migration reforms.

LePitri, similar Republican statesmanlike campaigner Donald Trump, backed wide deportations. Suozzi, a centrist, focused connected borderline information successful run ads and declared the “border is broken” astatine the Democratic National Convention.

After Santos was pushed retired of Congress, Suozzi defeated GOP challenger Maxi Pilip during the high-profile contest successful February, delivering Democrats an further spot successful the House and a imaginable playbook for winning competitory races.

Santos successful March launched a short-lived, autarkic campaign to retake his erstwhile spot — but raised nary wealth and quickly dropped retired of the race.