Democrat Tom Suozzi emerged victorious in the special election for New York’s Third Congressional District, securing a seat previously held by the embattled Republican Rep. George Santos.
GOP Reacts
Suozzi’s win over Republican opponent Mazi Pilip has narrowed the Republican majority in the House, sparking a flurry of reactions from GOP members.
Speaker Downplays Suozzi Win
House Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to downplay the importance of Suozzi’s victory, who previously served three terms in Congress, by suggesting to journalists that various factors contributed to the Democratic win.
“Ran like a Republican”
He claimed that the Democrat invested $15 million in his campaign and “ran like a Republican” on the border security issue.
Close the Border
Suozzi maintained a strong stance on the migrant issue and called on President Biden to temporarily close the U.S.-Mexico border.
Snow Factor
Speaker Johnson also cited the impact of a snowstorm on voter turnout, maintaining optimism for the GOP’s prospects in upcoming elections.
Not Seeking Biden Endorsement
During his campaign, the former congressman also clarified that he would not seek President Joe Biden’s endorsement for the seat.
A Local Race
He said, “This is very much a local race. This is me versus MazI Pilip. And as far as the other statewide and national figures, that’s not what this race is about.”
NRCC Comments on the Race
Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, echoed Johnson’s sentiments, acknowledging the challenging conditions for their candidate, Mazi Pilip, but remained hopeful about the party’s future electoral opportunities.
Pathways to Grow
Hudson said, “Republicans still have multiple pathways to grow our majority in November.”
Criticism from Trump
Former President Donald Trump criticized Mazi Pilip, whom he did not endorse, on Truth Social after her defeat in the special election.
Republicans Don’t Learn
“Republicans just don’t learn, but perhaps she was still a Democrat?” Trump wrote, alluding to the fact that Pilip is officially registered as a Democrat but was elected to the Nassau County Legislature as a Republican.
Foolish Women
He said, “This very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, … didn’t endorse me and tried to ‘straddle the fence,’ when she would have easily WON.”
Maga Camp Stayed Home
The former president alleged that his supporters in the district abstained from voting because Pilip was not aligned with the MAGA camp and did not endorse him for the 2024 presidential election or seek his endorsement.
Aligning with Trump
Trump’s comments sparked agreement among some Republicans, including Ohio Representative Max Miller, who emphasized the importance of aligning with Trump’s influence in modern American politics.
Haley Points Finger at Trump
Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley’s team spokesperson, Olivia Perez-Cubas, attributed the loss to the divisive impact of Donald Trump on the party’s electoral fortunes, suggesting that his presence continues to deter voters from supporting GOP candidates.
Bipartisan Vote Expels Santos
Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives in December through a bipartisan vote after a report from the House Ethics Committee revealed “substantial evidence” of his violation of campaign finance laws.
Conservative Voice
The decision to expel Santos from the House has sparked internal GOP criticism, with members like Texas Representative Troy Nehls lamenting the loss, stating, “Santos was a solid vote for the conservative voice, and we kicked him out.”
Republicans Helped Democrats
Georgia Representative Mike Collins on X noted, “So who still thinks Republicans helping Democrats kick out Santos was a good idea?”
Defending Expulsion
However, Republican lawmakers like Marc Molinaro and Carlos Gimenez, who voted to expel Santos, defended their action as necessary due to Santos’s ethical violations despite the political cost.
A Con Man
Molinaro said, “George Santos was a con man and a crook and shouldn’t have been a member of Congress,”
Narrow Majority
Suozzi’s win narrows the Republicans’ House majority to 219-213.
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