Tom Suozzi, a former congressman, has been officially designated as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming February 13th special election, designed to fill the vacancy left by former congressman George Santos, who was impeached by the United States House of Representatives. This information was released by local party leaders this Thursday.
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Previously holding the position before resigning for an unsuccessful run for governor of New York, Suozzi was among 19 candidates who sought to fill the vacant position left by Santos. The congressional district in question encompasses part of the New York City borough of Queens and the Long Island suburbs to the east.
Democratic leaders Jay Jacobs and Gregory Meeks, also a congressman, expressed their support for Suozzi, highlighting his proven record of voter advocacy and commitment to protecting the suburban way of life in Long Island and Queens, as well as proposing sensible solutions to the challenges he faces. by ordinary Americans.
Several other Democrats, including a former state senator, a surgery center executive and a councilman, have expressed interest in the race for the seat, while Republicans have not yet announced their candidate. The electoral race is expected to be fierce, with Democrats seeking to regain the seat and increase pressure on the narrow Republican majority in the Chamber, which currently has 221 seats against 213. The recent impeachment of Santos contributed to further reducing this margin, being approved by a bipartisan vote of 311 votes in favor and 114 against last Friday. George Santos, 35, the son of Brazilian parents, was the sixth congressman in US history to be impeached, accused of forging significant parts of his biography during the campaign and facing corruption charges. Although he pleaded not guilty to 23 charges brought by federal prosecutors, his trial is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2024.