Hometown Police Union Backs GOP Challenger Over Rep. Tom Suozzi

The Glen Cove City Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Republican challenger Michael LiPetri, withdrawing support from hometown incumbent Rep. Tom Suozzi. This marks a significant shift, as the union had backed Suozzi in his 2024 congressional race against LiPetri.

Suozzi, who grew up in Glen Cove and served as its mayor from 1994 to 2001, recently secured endorsements from the Nassau County PBA and the New York City Uniformed Firefighters Association. However, the city of Glen Cove maintains its own police force, separate from the county's.

Glen Cove PBA President Chris Pascucci stated that LiPetri "stood with Law Enforcement 100%" when others "turned their back on us and let us down." He added, "The Glen Cove PBA is proud to endorse Mike LiPetri for Congress."

LiPetri's campaign highlighted Suozzi's vote for the George Floyd Act, which he argued stripped police officers of qualified immunity and led to demoralization within law enforcement. "When it comes to public safety, Tom Suozzi is in bed with ‘Horrible’ [Gov. Kathy] Hochul who has unleashed the failed bail reform policies and stood in the way of local law enforcement from helping rid our communities of criminal illegal migrants," LiPetri stated.

Suozzi, a Democrat, is seeking re-election in New York's Third Congressional District. He previously served in the House from 2017 to 2023 before briefly leaving to run for governor. He won a special election in February 2024 to reclaim his seat after the expulsion of Rep. George Santos.

In the 2024 election, Suozzi narrowly defeated LiPetri, a former state Assembly member, by a 3-percentage-point margin. Despite a close race, Republican groups, including a Super PAC linked to former President Trump, have invested approximately $10 million in the current cycle to support LiPetri's challenge against Suozzi. However, recent funding from these groups has reportedly slowed.