CNN
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Democratic former Rep. Tom Suozzi will win a high-stakes particular election in New York to succeed disgraced Republican George Santos, CNN initiatives, a consequence that may additional shrink the Home GOP’s slender majority.
Whereas Suozzi’s win over Republican Mazi Pilip gained’t have an effect on management of the Home, the consequence however has main implications for the GOP, which holds a slender 219-212 majority within the chamber and might afford to lose simply three votes on any partisan measure. An excellent tighter margin may show crucial in upcoming legislative battles over authorities funding and extra.
The particular election for the Lengthy Island-based 3rd Congressional District may additionally function a bellwether for different suburban races this fall. Republicans flipped a number of Home seats throughout the New York Metropolis metropolitan space in 2022, together with the third District, and the state is as soon as once more poised to be a focus within the battle for management of Congress.
The central points within the particular election — together with immigration, abortion rights, the Israel-Hamas struggle and the candidates’ postures towards each President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — may additionally outline this yr’s basic election.
Suozzi, 61, has been a long-term fixture in native Nassau County politics. A average, he beforehand served as Glen Cove mayor and Nassau County govt, earlier than representing an earlier model of the third District for 3 phrases. He vacated the seat in 2022 for an finally unsuccessful bid for governor, and Santos ended up flipping the district that fall.
Pilip, 44, is a Nassau County legislator who was making her first bid for federal workplace. An Israeli immigrant, she was born in Ethiopia and served within the Israel Protection Forces.
Below New York’s particular election guidelines, each nominees have been chosen by county social gathering leaders within the district.
In December, Santos turned solely the sixth lawmaker to be expelled from Congress, bringing to an finish a scandal-plagued and tumultuous tenure on Capitol Hill. He has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, together with allegations that he stole donors’ identities and ran up hundreds of {dollars} in fraudulent costs on their bank cards, misused marketing campaign funds and lied about his private funds on Home disclosure studies. He faces a potential trial later this yr.
Along with his victory within the particular election, Suozzi will serve out the rest of Santos’ time period, which ends in January.
The first for the common full time period might be held in June. However the district’s boundaries past the particular election stay unsure, as New York’s highest court docket has ordered the state to redraw its congressional map this year. The state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature would have final say over the new lines.
CNN’s David Wright contributed to this report.