In a New York special election slated for Tuesday, Democrats are poised to challenge the razor-thin majority held by Republicans in the House, aiming to fill the vacancy left by the ouster of Republican George Santos from the chamber.
The contest features Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Republican county legislator with experience in the Israeli military, and Tom Suozzi, a Democrat and former congressman, county executive, and mayor. They are vying for the seat representing a small section of New York City and parts of its eastern suburbs.
With Republicans currently holding a narrow 219-212 House majority, managing the chamber has proved challenging. This was evident last week when the House narrowly failed to pass a measure to impeach President Joe Biden’s top border official, Alejandro Mayorkas, falling short by just one vote. The House plans to revisit the vote, hoping the return of No. 2 Republican Steve Scalise, R-La., from cancer treatment will tip the scales.
Santos was expelled from the House following a historic vote after serving nearly 11 months, amid criminal corruption charges and accusations of misusing campaign funds.
Early voting for the special election commenced on Feb. 3. Despite the district’s support for Biden in the 2020 election, Republicans in the New York area are known for their robust turnout operation, having secured several congressional seats in the region two years ago.
However, a major winter storm approaching the region could potentially dampen voter turnout on Tuesday.
Immigration has emerged as a central issue in this election, mirroring concerns nationwide ahead of an anticipated rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump in November.
Pilip has consistently criticized Suozzi and the Democratic Party’s handling of immigration, accusing them of failing to address border security adequately. She garnered endorsement from a labor union representing Border Patrol officers.
“I prevented migrants from being sent to Nassau and will prioritize securing the border once in Congress,” Pilip emphasized in a Facebook post, referring to Nassau County.
Suozzi, on the other hand, has rebutted Pilip’s attacks as misleading and lacking in substance regarding solutions for border security. He has highlighted his bipartisan immigration proposals while criticizing Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan border security agreement negotiated in the Senate, which collapsed after Trump urged Republicans to oppose it.
“Ms. Pilip keeps pointing out the problem without offering viable solutions,” Suozzi remarked during the election’s sole debate.
Neither candidate’s campaign responded to requests for comment.
Lawrence Levy, executive dean at Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, noted the significance of the special election in shaping both parties’ strategies in suburban areas leading up to the November elections.
“This race could serve as a litmus test for swing suburban districts nationwide, which will ultimately determine the balance of power in Congress,” Levy observed.
