Tom Suozzi opens campaign HQ on rival’s turf in race to succeed expelled George Santos in House

Former Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi opened his campaign headquarters in Great Neck Sunday — the hometown of Republican rival Mazi Pilip — in a bid to reclaim the seat vacated by expelled ex Congressman George Santos. The Democrat, who formerly represented portions of Nassau County and Eastern Queens, wanted to make clear that he’s competing for the votes of more conservative constituents in Great Neck in the Feb.

13 special election. “This is a scary time and people don’t know what’s coming next, but they know me and they know I will fight for them,” Suozzi, the former Nassau County executive who previously served 4 terms in the House of Representatives. “Not everybody loves to hear this but the people of Nassau and Queens know that I will work with anyone, conservatives, progressives, centrists, Republicans and Democrats, who like me, will work to find common ground and get something done.” The opening of the headquarters drew some 200 people, including state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who introduced Suozzi, and Queens.

Rep. Grace Meng. Suozzi gave up his congressional seat to run for governor, losing badly to Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary in 2022. Long Island, including his congressional district, has swung Republican red the past few years amid voter disgust over Democrats swinging to the left on criminal justices and other social issues — particularly the unpopular cashless bail law.

The Feb. 13 special election is being closely watched nationally — a potential harbinger to determine which party will win control over the House of Representatives. The GOP currently holds a very slim majority. Nassau County leader Jay Jacobs is bullish that Suozzi’s aggressive campaigning in Republican areas will pay dividends.

“Suozzi is taking his campaign to the Republican heartland. It’s going to bear fruit,” said Jacobs, who attended Suozzi’s Great Neck event. Pilip’s campaign said Suozzi would not attract voters in her hometown and linked him to the left wing of the Democratic party that includes Democratic socialist Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. “Tom Suozzi can try to pander to voters in Great Neck by opening a headquarters there, but families in Great Neck won’t forget that he joined AOC’s Squad, which embraces an antisemitic and anti Israel agenda,” said Pilip campaign spokesman Brian Devine. “Tom Suozzi’s extremism is out of touch with Great Neck and the entire 3rd Congressional District.” Pilip, an Ethiopian native who served in the Israeli Defense Services, currently serves in the Nassau County Legislature.

Lying Santos became the sixth member ever to be expelled from the US House of Representatives last month, a little more than a year after he won the election despite fabricating much of his personal and professional history, lying about his campaign’s finances and allegedly defrauding donors..