In a significant political development, Democratic Representative Tom Suozzi of New York was officially sworn into Congress on Wednesday evening. This follows his victory in a special election earlier this month, a race that garnered nationwide attention. Suozzi’s induction fills the US House seat left vacant by Republican Rep. George Santos, who was expelled.
The addition of Suozzi to the Democratic ranks further tightens the already slim majority held by the GOP in Congress. The current tally stands at 219 Republicans to 213 Democrats. This implies that the GOP can afford to lose only two votes to pass a measure, a challenge further complicated by potential absences and divisions within the House Republican Conference.
At present, Congress has three vacancies: one in a safe Democratic district and two in safe Republican districts. These seats were previously held by former New York Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, former Ohio GOP Rep. Bill Johnson, and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, all of whom resigned in recent months. However, these vacancies will not be filled until later this year, as replacement candidates must participate in special elections.
Despite his recent induction, Suozzi is no stranger to Congress. He previously served three terms representing an earlier version of New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Known as a moderate Democrat, Suozzi has also made two unsuccessful attempts to secure his party’s nomination for governor. He finished third in the Democratic primary against Gov. Kathy Hochul last year and lost a 2006 bid to Eliot Spitzer.
In this year’s special election, Suozzi emerged victorious by a margin of nearly eight points against Republican nominee Mazi Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Israeli immigrant who served in the Israel Defense Forces. The race was largely shaped by issues of immigration, crime, and voter trust.
The seat originally won by Santos was among those in New York that flipped in 2022, contributing to the GOP majority in Congress. However, Santos’ tenure was short-lived as allegations regarding his resume and personal finances led to a House Ethics Committee investigation and his subsequent expulsion from Congress.