Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi defeats Trump-backed Michael LiPetri in rematch

Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi declared victory late Tuesday after again holding off Republican Michael LiPetri in a rematch for New York’s 3rd House District covering parts of Nassau and Queens.

“I have good news and bad news. Bad news — we’re not getting $5,000 checks,” Suozzi said at his watch party in Nassau County, jibing at President Trump’s campaign trail promise to send voters cash if the GOP won big in the midterms.

“Good news — democracy works,” Suozzi continued to applause from the crowd.

“They threw everything they could at us, and we kicked their ass.”

Early returns had Suozzi leading LiPetri by 16 percentage points — 58% to 42% — in both the Nassau and Queens portions of the district. NBC News called the race for Suozzi minutes before 11 p.m.


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Suozzi defeated LiPetri, a former state Assembly member, by only 3-percentage points in the November 2024 election — a result much closer than pundits and pollsters predicted.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) speaking in Oyster Bay on Oct. 17, 2026. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

The Republican Party did not invest heavily in the 2024 contest, but Trump carried the district during the presidential race, likely helping LiPetri’s surprisingly strong showing.

But Trump-allied PACs and the GOP pumped more than $10 million to aid LiPetri and defeat Suozzi this fall, perhaps believing the Republican running at the top of the ticket for governor, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, would carry the district and boost LiPetri.

The White House for months targeted Suozzi for defeat.

Vice President JD Vance visited the district for an official event in June and attacked Suozzi and talked up LiPetri.

It was a hard-fought race.

GOP candidate Mike LiPetri greeting supporters at an event in Franklin Square on Oct. 26, 2026. Stephen Yang

During a feisty News 12 debate, LiPetri claimed Suozzi was a typical Democrat who voted against bills that helped his constituents, such as raising the federal cap to claim deductions on state and local taxes.

Suozzi claimed the GOP-crafted legislation included other “poison pills” harmful to his constituents, such as reduced spending on social service programs.

The Democratic incumbent countered that he’s one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and accused LiPetri of being a lackey of Trump.

LiPetri speaking at a campaign rally with Vice President JD Vance in Bethpage on June 17, 2026. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

Suozzi sought to distance himself from the Democratic Party’s left-socialist wing and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.


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After a wave of democratic socialist primary wins in June, Suozzi argued that capitalism has raised more people out of poverty than any system in history and vowed to reclaim the party from the left.

“There’s a lot of us that don’t like what’s happening with the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) — nobody’s organized,” Suozzi told The Post then.

Suozzi marching in the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan on Oct. 12, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY Post

Suozzi even raised eyebrows when he cited a scheduling conflict and skipped a joint Long Island campaign appearance in October with Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Suozzi is completing his second stint in the House of Representatives, having previously served from 2017–2023, after serving as Nassau County executive and Glen Cove mayor.

The Democrat gave up his House seat to run for governor in 2022, losing in the Democratic primary to Hochul. He then won a special election in February 2024 to reclaim his old seat after scandal-scarred Republican Rep. George Santos was expelled.

Suozzi was backed by the Nassau County PBA, but LiPetri snagged the endorsement of the Glen Cove PBA, which is Suozzi’s hometown and former base as mayor.

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