Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi will return to Congress after winning a special election to replace the expelled Rep. George Santos on Tuesday.
Suozzi, a former three-term House member from New York, defeated Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Nassau County legislator, in the high-profile special election that was called by The Associated Press shortly after 10 p.m., when Suozzi had nearly 58 percent of the vote.
Suozzi gave up the 3rd District seat to run unsuccessfully for governor in 2022. During this year’s campaign, he touted his prior experience in Congress, which included serving on the Ways and Means Committee, where he sought to foster a reputation for bipartisanship. Suozzi said he would try to work with Republicans on issues like immigration, while also campaigning on issues important to the Democratic base like abortion rights and gun control.
