Former President Donald Trump called for a new GOP candidate to run for New York’s 3rd Congressional District in November after Democrat Tom Suozzi’s victory on Tuesday.
In a Truth Social post, President Trump called failed GOP candidate Mazi Pilip “foolish” for not endorsing him during her campaign in New York’s special election to replace former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was expelled from Congress last year.
“Republicans just don’t learn, but maybe she was still a Democrat?” President Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to Ms. Pilip, a former Democrat who ran on the Republican ballot and lost on Tuesday.
“I have an almost 99% Endorsement Success Rate in Primaries, and a very good number in the General Elections, as well, but just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, running in a race where she didn’t endorse me and tried to ’straddle the fence,' when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America,” he added.
President Trump criticized Ms. Pilip for distancing herself from him during the race.
“MAGA, which is most of the Republican Party, stayed home, and it always will, unless it is treated with the respect that it deserves. I stayed out of the race, ‘I want to be loved!’” he wrote. “Give us a real candidate in the district for November. Suozzi, I know him well, can be easily beaten!”
A powerful winter storm dumped 10 inches of snow in New York and Long Island overnight, keeping many voters away on Tuesday.
The Epoch Times observed low voter turnout at polling places, some of which were shut down due to the weather. Both campaigns offered rides to polling places.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) announced the special election for Mr. Santos’ seat on Dec. 5, 2023.
Mr. Santos represented the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Nassau County and parts of Eastern Queens such as Whitestone, Beechhurst, Douglaston, and Little Neck.
“We are fighters. Yes, we lost, but it doesn’t mean we are going to end here,” Ms. Pilip said after the race was called.
The balance of power in Congress for the next nine months was at stake in the race, with the number of Democrats in the lower chamber rising from 212 to 213 compared to 219 Republicans.
The addition of Mr. Suozzi narrows the already small GOP majority, making every vote in Congress crucial. The ramifications of this tiny majority have been on display in the context of issues like government funding and foreign assistance.
The tighter majority could pose challenges for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who faces criticism from conservatives for supporting government funding measures.
Democrats spent $9.6 million on advertising and campaign messaging for Mr. Suozzi, which was $2.8 million more than the GOP spent on Ms. Pilip, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. Mr. Suozzi had millions more in total receipts and cash on hand compared to Ms. Pilip, per FEC data.
Their district appears to be predominantly for Democrats, with President Biden securing 54.7 percent of the 2020 presidential election votes compared to President Trump’s 44.3 percent. However, the Nassau County Republican Party remains a formidable force, holding key seats in the county executive, county clerk, and district attorney positions.
The contest in New York’s 3rd Congressional District unfolded against the looming prospect of a potential rematch between President Trump and President Joe Biden in the upcoming November 2024 general election.
Concerns about President Biden’s age were reignited recently following a special counsel report expressing worries about his memory.
In response to reports that the current Republican National Committee chair, Ronna McDaniel, plans to resign, President Trump announced his choice to head the committee this week. He endorsed his ally Michael Whatley for the position and nominated his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as co-chair.
