On Politics

Tue Feb 13 2024

Sudiksha Kochi | Congress, Campaigns and Democracy Reporter

@KochiSudiksha

Hello OnPolitics readers! Voters in New York's 3rd congressional district head to the polls Tuesday to select a replacement for embattled former Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from Congress in December.

Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip are vying for the seat. Democrats are hoping to flip back the once-blue district, while both parties are using Tuesday's election to test the waters ahead of other 2024 races, USA TODAY's Rachel Looker and Ken Tran report.

Here's a look at the race:

❌ Why was Santos expelled from Congress? The House expelled the former New York lawmaker after a scathing House Ethics Committee report found evidence he misused campaign funds for his own personal benefit and committed federal crimes.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

🗳️ Who are Suozzi and Pilip? Suozzi is a former three-term U.S. House member who was first elected in 2016. While in Congress, he served as vice chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Pilip is a Nassau County legislator born in Ethiopia. She moved to Israel with her family and served in the Israel Defense Force before immigrating to the United States.

🎯 Why does one New York race matter? The stakes for this election are high given House Republicans' razor-thin majority in the lower chamber. The party breakdown in the House is currently 219-212. A Suozzi or Pilip victory will determine just how much breathing room GOP leaders will have when it comes to passing key legislation.