ALBANY, NY – A special election to choose a successor George SantosNew York Republican expelled from House of Representatives last weekwill take place on February 13, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.
The race for a seat representing some Long Island suburbs and a small portion of New York’s Queens borough is expected to be a high-profile contest that will mark the start of a year of consecutive legislative elections in the state.
For Democrats, the election will be a test of the party’s ability to flip districts around New York City that are seen as key to their plan to regain control of the House. Republicans enter the contest with strong momentum on Long Island and will fight to retain the district while seeking to maintain their narrow majority in the House.
Candidates in the special election will be chosen by party leaders, not voters.
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi has emerged as the Democrats’ favorite potential candidate. Suozzi, 61, represented the district for six years before launching an unsuccessful campaign for governor last year, and previously held political positions as county executive and mayor of Long Island.
The centrist Democrat’s deep ties to Long Island politics may give him name recognition and the ability to quickly run a campaign — essential attributes in a narrowly focused election where voters will have limited time to choose their representative.
Suozzi announced his campaign for the seat before Santos’ expulsion, and won a series of endorsements from local politicians and labor groups after the district became vacant.
Also vying for the Democratic nomination is former Sen. Anna Kaplan, who in recent days has criticized Suozzi’s record and sought to center the special election on passing federal legislation guaranteeing abortion rights .
On the Republican side, potential names include retired police detective Mike Sapraicone, Air Force veteran Kellen Curry and Nassau County Assemblywoman Mazi Pilip, a Jew of Ethiopian descent who served in the Israeli army.
Sapraicone, who is also the founder of a private security company, said he was interviewed by county Republicans who will select the candidate, with the panel questioning him about his policy positions, ability to raise money and launch quickly a campaign.
Like Suozzi, Sapraicone launched his campaign before Santos’ expulsion and has already begun fundraising, with his campaign coffers including $300,000 of his own money, he said.
“It is very important for us to maintain the House and maintain the majority,” Sapraicone said. “It’s so important that New York sets the tone here in February.”
Democrats want to flip at least five House seats in New York next year, with Santos’ seat a potential early indicator of their chances in November.
The party has devoted significant financial and organizational resources to the state, after a series of losses last year in the New York suburbs helped Republicans take control of the House and drew sharp criticism to against state Democrats.
President Joe Biden won the district in 2020, but Republicans have made major electoral gains on Long Island in recent years as moderate suburban voters have shifted to the GOP.
In the latest sign of Republican strength on Long Island, the GOP won several local elections on the island last month, including elections in the now-vacant district.
Santos was excluded from the House last week following a scandal-plagued term in Congress and a looming criminal trial. He is only the sixth member in House history to be ousted by his colleagues.
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