Looking to return to Capitol Hill, Democrat Tom Suozzi is making his pitch to voters, saying: You know me. 

“I'm a Democrat, I’ll always be a Democrat. But I'll work with anybody if they genuinely care about solving problems,” he told Spectrum News NY1 in an interview Tuesday, nearly a month before the Feb. 13 special election to replace ousted Rep. George Santos.

What You Need To Know

  • Suozzi, who served as mayor of Glen Cove and Nassau County executive before serving in Congress, said his top priorities including lift the SALT cap and fixing the immigration system

  • Suozzi was blasting his opponent for not agreeing to more debates and ducking questions from the press. "After George Santos, I think people have the right to have a candidate that's transparent," he said

  • Republicans are questioning Suozzi’s endorsement of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and highlighting his consistent votes while in Congress in support of Biden's agenda
  • Asked why he is better positioned to stand up for Israel than his opponent, who served with IDF, Suozzi said, in part, “Another Republican that supports Israel is not adding much to the equation"

Suozzi was mayor of Glen Cove and Nassau County executive before serving three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He left after mounting an unsuccessful run for governor in 2022. 

He said his top priorities, should he be elected, include lifting the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and fixing the immigration system. 

Winning the special election in New York’s 3rd District, which includes parts of Nassau and Queens counties, would halt recent GOP gains on Long Island. 

“This is the first time the Democrats are saying, ‘No, we want you to run. We want you to run.’ Because - it's not that everybody loves me - it's that they want to win,” Suozzi said.

Suozzi has come out swinging against the Republican nominee, Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip. He is blasting her for not agreeing to more debates and ducking questions, including how she voted in the last presidential election. 

“After George Santos, quite frankly, when nobody knew what the truth was about George Santos, I think people have the right to have a candidate that's transparent, that we can really find out what they’re all about,” Suozzi said. 

“Either she voted for Donald Trump, and she doesn't like that idea,” he continued. “Or she voted for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden and she doesn't want her base to know about that.”

Republicans are questioning Suozzi’s endorsement of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. They are trying to tie him to the progressive “Squad” on Capitol Hill. And they are highlighting his consistent votes in Congress in support of President Joe Biden’s agenda, including Democrats’ signature Inflation Reduction Act. 

Asked to evaluate Biden’s handling of the job, Suozzi said, “I think the president has done a lot of fantastic accomplishments related to infrastructure, the CHIPS Act, the fact that the economy is improving.”

“I'm not happy that the president has not made immigration more of a focus,” he noted. 

After being named the Democratic nominee in the special election in December, Suozzi visited Israel, voicing steadfast support for the country. 

“You'd have to have be in-human [sic] not to feel sympathy for so many people that are suffering both in Israel and in Gaza,” he said. “But Hamas must be stopped.”

Notably, Suozzi’s opponent, Pilip, served with the Israel Defense Forces. 

Asked why he is better positioned to stand up for Israel, Suozzi said in part, “Another Republican that supports Israel is not adding much to the equation. What we need right now are strong, outspoken Democrats that are willing to stand up to other Democrats on the far left.”

Suozzi said that even if he loses the Feb. 13 special election, he will still pursue a full term in November’s regularly scheduled election.