In a surprising turn of events, Democratic candidate Zak Malamed has dropped his bid for the closely-watched House seat currently held by embattled Republican Rep. George Santos in New York. This announcement comes as Republican Ed Romaine successfully flipped the Suffolk County Executive Office to GOP control for the first time in two decades, signaling a shift towards conservatism in the region.
With New York’s Long Island becoming increasingly red after the recent election, the race for Santos’ seat is expected to be a crucial battleground that could determine party control of the House. Malamed, after stepping out of the race, has endorsed former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, to challenge Santos in the upcoming election. Malamed believes that Suozzi is their best chance to flip the district blue and end the influence of MAGA Republicans on Long Island and in Congress.
The list of Democratic challengers vying for Santos’ seat includes former state Sen. Anna Kaplan, Josh Lafazan, William Murphy, Steve Behar, Scott Livingston, Austin Cheng, and Darius Radzius. Malamed had shown significant fundraising success, reporting $524,000 in cash on hand after raising $302,000 over three months. However, he believes that this moment calls for unity within the Democratic Party to prioritize electing a Democratic majority that can deliver relief for the American people, aid for Israel, and support for Ukraine.
Suozzi, who previously represented the 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Long Island and northeast Queens, has announced his campaign to retake the New York congressional seat held by Santos. He criticizes Santos’ continued presence in Congress, especially in light of the criminal charges he is facing. Suozzi, an accountant and lawyer, served as mayor of Glen Cove from 1994 to 2001 and as Nassau County’s elected executive from 2002 to 2009. He was first elected to Congress in 2016 and survived a tough re-election in 2020.
Santos, on the other hand, faces a multitude of criminal charges but has so far resisted calls to resign. He has pleaded not guilty to allegations of embezzlement, lying in financial disclosures, and receiving unemployment funds when he was not eligible. Last month, federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Santos, accusing him of stealing the identities of his political donors and making unauthorized charges on their credit cards. Santos’ ex-treasurer has already pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge and implicated Santos in a scheme to falsify campaign finance reports.
Santos’ credibility has also been called into question as news outlets discovered that he had fabricated parts of his background, including his education and employment history. He falsely claimed to be a Wall Street dealmaker with a real estate portfolio, when in reality, he was facing financial struggles and had been evicted from multiple apartments. He also lied about his heritage, falsely claiming to be Jewish.
The race for the House seat in New York’s 3rd Congressional District has now become a battleground for Democrats and Republicans. With the recent shift towards conservatism in Long Island and the growing list of Democratic contenders, the outcome of this race will have significant implications for party control in the House. As the campaign heats up, all eyes will be on Tom Suozzi as he aims to unseat the embattled Rep. George Santos and restore integrity to the district.
