Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi has declared victory in his rematch against Republican challenger Michael LiPetri for New York’s 3rd House District, which covers parts of Nassau and Queens counties.
Early returns showed Suozzi leading LiPetri by 16 percentage points, with 58% of the vote compared to LiPetri's 42%. NBC News projected Suozzi as the winner shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
“They threw everything they could at us, and we kicked their ass,” Suozzi told supporters at his watch party in Nassau County.
This election marked a rematch of the 2024 contest, where Suozzi defeated LiPetri by a narrow 3-percentage-point margin. That race was closer than many anticipated, partly due to former President Trump carrying the district in the presidential election.
Both the Trump-allied PACs and the Republican Party invested significant resources into this race, reportedly spending over $10 million to support LiPetri and oppose Suozzi, with expectations that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman would boost LiPetri’s chances.
During the campaign, LiPetri criticized Suozzi’s voting record, particularly his stance on the federal cap for state and local tax deductions. Suozzi countered by arguing that the Republican-backed legislation contained harmful provisions and asserted his bipartisan approach, while accusing LiPetri of being aligned with Trump.
Suozzi, a Democrat, has sought to distance himself from the progressive wing of his party. He previously served in the House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023 before running for governor in 2022. He reclaimed his House seat in a special election in February 2024 after the expulsion of Republican Rep. George Santos.
The race saw endorsements from various groups, including the Nassau County PBA backing Suozzi. However, LiPetri secured the endorsement of the Glen Cove PBA, Suozzi's hometown union.