2024 New York's 3rd congressional district special election
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The 2024 New York's 3rd congressional district special election was held on February 13, 2024, to fill the vacant seat in New York's 3rd congressional district for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant after the expulsion of Republican George Santos on December 1, 2023. Considered a suburban swing seat, political analysts predicted a competitive and expensive election for both parties.[1][2] The early voting period ran from February 3 to February 11, 2024.[3][4]
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February 13, 2024
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New York's 3rd congressional district | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Suozzi: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Pilip: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Republicans nominated Nassau County legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, while Democrats nominated Tom Suozzi, the former U.S. representative for this district and Santos's predecessor. Suozzi defeated Pilip, reclaiming the seat for Democrats.[5] This was the first time that a New York congressional seat changed parties in a special election since 2011.
Background
Republican George Santos was elected to Congress in 2022 from New York's 3rd district. Weeks later, The New York Times reported that he had misrepresented his background during the campaign.[6] Santos confirmed the allegations against him were true soon after, but refused to resign from his seat.[7] After a formal inquiry by the House Ethics Committee, he was expelled from the House of Representatives on December 1, 2023, by a vote of 311 to 114. At the time of the expulsion, he was indicted on 23 federal charges related to fraud.[8] Santos was the first representative to be expelled in two decades and the first since the Civil War to be expelled before any criminal conviction.[9]
Nominees
New York does not use primary elections when filling vacancies. Instead, party officials in the affected counties (in this case, Nassau and Queens) are responsible for choosing nominees.[10]
Democratic Party
Democrats selected Tom Suozzi as the party's nominee on December 7, 2023.[11] He had previously represented the district in the House from 2017 to 2023. Before that, he served as the Nassau County executive and the mayor of Glen Cove, and had run for governor in 2006 and 2022.[12]
Republican Party
On December 14, 2023, Republicans selected Mazi Melesa Pilip as their nominee to replace Santos.[13] She previously served in the Israel Defense Forces, and has represented the 10th legislative district in the Nassau County Legislature since 2022.[14] She was a registered Democrat who held office as a Republican.[15]
Minor parties
New York allows fusion voting in elections, prompting minor parties to nominate candidates on their ballot lines. The Conservative Party of New York State nominated Pilip.[16] Suozzi declined to seek the support of the Working Families Party, despite having accepted the party's nomination in past election cycles.[17][18]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[19] | Tossup | January 23, 2024 |
| Inside Elections[20] | Tossup | February 9, 2024 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[21] | Tossup | February 7, 2024 |
| Elections Daily[22] | Lean D (flip) | February 5, 2024 |
| CNalysis[23] | Lean D (flip) | February 12, 2024 |
Endorsements
U.S. senators
- Al D'Amato, former U.S. senator from New York (1981–1999)[24]
U.S. representatives
- Anthony D'Esposito, U.S. representative for NY 4 (2023–present)[25]
- Tom Emmer, U.S. representative for MN 6 (2015–present) and House majority whip (2023–present)[26]
- Andrew Garbarino, U.S. representative for NY 2 (2021–present)[26]
- Richard Hudson, U.S. representative for NC 9 (2013–present)[27]
- Peter King, former U.S. representative for NY 2 (1993–2021)[25]
- Nick LaLota, U.S. representative for NY 1 (2023–present)[25]
- Mike Lawler, U.S. representative for NY 17 (2023–present)[26]
- Nicole Malliotakis, U.S. representative for NY 11 (2021–present)[26]
- Marc Molinaro, U.S. representative for NY 19 (2023–present)[26]
- Elise Stefanik, U.S. representative for NY 21 (2015–present) and House Republican Conference chair (2021–present)[27]
State legislators
- Ari Brown, state assemblyman for the 20th district (2022–present)[27]
Local officials
- Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive (2022–present)[27]
Labor unions
- Nassau County Correction Officers' Benevolent Association[28]
- Nassau and Suffolk County Police Benevolent Associations[29][30]
- National Border Patrol Council[31]
- Sergeants Benevolent Association[28]
Organizations
Newspapers
Political parties
U.S. senators
- Doug Jones, former U.S. senator from Alabama (2018–2021)[39]
U.S representatives
- Suzan DelBene, U.S. representative for WA 1 (2012–present)[40]
- Gabby Giffords, former U.S. representative for AZ 8 (2007–2012)[41]
- Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. representative for NY 8 (2013–present) and House minority leader (2023–present)[42]
- Ron Klein, former U.S. representative for FL 22 (2007–2011)[43]
- Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. representative for IL 8 (2017–present)[44]
- Annie Kuster, U.S. representative for NH 2 (2013–present)[45]
- Ted Lieu, U.S. representative for CA 36 (2015–present) and House Democratic Caucus vice chair (2023–present)[46]
- Gregory Meeks, U.S. representative for NY 5 (1998–present)[42]
- Grace Meng, U.S. representative for NY 6 (2013–present)[47]
- Pat Ryan, U.S. representative for NY 18 (2022–present)[45]
- Linda Sánchez, U.S. representative for CA 38 (2003–present)[48]
- Abigail Spanberger, U.S. representative for VA 7 (2019–present) and 2025 candidate for governor of Virginia[49]
State governors
- Kathy Hochul, governor of New York (2021–present)[50]
State legislators
- Anna Kaplan, former state senator for the 7th district (2019–2022)[51]
Local officials
- Josh Lafazan, former Nassau County legislator for the 18th district (2018–2023)[52]
Individuals
- Mark Mellman, political consultant[53]
- Kelley Robinson, community activist and organizer[54]
- Mini Timmaraju, reproductive rights activist[55]
Labor unions
- 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East[56]
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056[25]
- Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen[57]
- Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000[58]
- Communications Workers of America District 1[59]
- Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638[60]
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local One[61]
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers[25]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 3 and 1049[62][63]
- N.Y.C. District Council of Carpenters[25]
- National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300[64]
- New York City and State Building and Construction Trades Councils[25]
- New York State AFL-CIO[25]
- New York State Laborers[65]
- New York State Nurses Association[66]
- New York State United Teachers[67]
- Public Employees Federation[68]
- Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 338[69]
- SEIU 32BJ[25]
- Transport Workers Union of America Local 100[70]
- Transportation Communications International Union[71]
- United Association Plumbers Local One[72]
- United Auto Workers Region 9A[25]
- United Federation of Teachers[73]
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 338[69]
Organizations
- Alliance for Retired Americans[74]
- ASPIRE PAC[47]
- Brady PAC[75]
- CHC BOLD PAC[48]
- College Democrats of America[46]
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee[40]
- Democratic Majority for Israel[53]
- End Citizens United[76]
- Giffords[41]
- Harvard College Democrats[77]
- High School Democrats of America[78]
- Human Rights Campaign[54]
- Indivisible[66]
- Jewish Democratic Council of America[43]
- League of Conservation Voters[79]
- Moms Demand Action[80]
- Natural Resources Defense Council[81]
- NewDem Action Fund[45]
- Planned Parenthood[66]
- Reproductive Freedom for All[55]
- Sierra Club[82]
- Swing Left[83]
- Young Democrats of America[78]
Newspapers
Political parties
U.S. executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021) (Republican)[87]
Organizations
Debate
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Links | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | ||||||
| Mazi Melesa Pilip | Tom Suozzi | |||||
| 1[88] | February 8, 2024 | News 12 Long Island | Rich Barrabi | YouTube | P | P |
News 12 Long Island hosted a debate between Suozzi and Pilip on February 8, 2024.[89] Suozzi's campaign had proposed additional debates to be hosted by WABC-TV, WNBC, and NY1. However, Pilip declined to participate in any of them, telling The Jewish Star that she did not have much time for debates given the short campaign schedule.[90][91]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Mazi Pilip (R) | $1,342,835 | $714,273 | $628,561 |
| Tom Suozzi (D) | $4,514,693 | $2,360,689 | $2,217,239 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[92] | |||
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Mazi Melesa Pilip (R) |
Tom Suozzi (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JL Partners[93][A] | February 10–12, 2024 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 45% | 46% | 9% |
| Siena College[94][B] | February 3–6, 2024 | 694 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 44% | 48% | 7% |
| Emerson College[95][C] | February 4–5, 2024 | 742 (VLV/AV) | ± 3.5% | 47% | 50% | 3% |
| 48% | 52% | – | ||||
| Emerson College[96][C] | January 13–15, 2024 | 975 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 42% | 45% | 9% |
| Opinion Diagnostics (R)[97][D] | November 30, 2023 | 900 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 40% | 43% | 17% |
Kellen Curry vs. Tom Suozzi
Mike Sapraicone vs. Tom Suozzi
Results
Ultimately, Tom Suozzi won the special election by 8%.[98] The race further narrowed the already slim advantage Republicans had in the United States House of Representatives.[99] Some believed that a winter storm might have helped Suozzi, since Suozzi did better in the early votes and Pilip did better on Election Day.[100]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Suozzi | 93,183 | 53.92 | +9.66 | |
| Republican | Mazi Melesa Pilip | 69,778 | 40.38 | −8.97 | |
| Conservative | Mazi Melesa Pilip | 9,512 | 5.50 | +1.09 | |
| Total | Mazi Melesa Pilip | 79,290 | 45.88 | −7.88 | |
| Write-in | 337 | 0.20 | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 172,810 | 100.00 | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
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Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
VLV – very likely voters
AV – already voted
V – unclear
Partisan clients
- Poll sponsored by the New York Post
- Poll sponsored by Nexstar Media Group
- Poll sponsored by Curry's campaign