The 2024 New York's 3rd congressional district special election was held on February 13, 2024, to fill the vacant seat in New York's 3rd congressional district for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant after the expulsion of Republican George Santos on December 1, 2023. Considered a suburban swing seat, political analysts predicted a competitive and expensive election for both parties. The early voting period ran from February 3 to February 11, 2024.

Republicans nominated Nassau County legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, while Democrats nominated Tom Suozzi, the former U.S. representative for this district and Santos's predecessor. Suozzi defeated Pilip, reclaiming the seat for Democrats. This was the first time that a New York congressional seat changed parties in a special election since 2011.

Background Republican George Santos was elected to Congress in 2022 from New York's 3rd district. Weeks later, The New York Times reported that he had misrepresented his background during the campaign.Who Is Rep.-Elect George Santos? His Résumé May Be Largely Fiction., New York Times, December 19, 2022 Santos confirmed the allegations against him were true soon after, but refused to resign from his seat.Rep.-elect George Santos admits to lying about bio, but says he still intends to serve in Congress, CNN Politics, December 27, 2022 After a formal inquiry by the House Ethics Committee, he was expelled from the House of Representatives on December 1, 2023, by a vote of 311 to 114. At the time of the expulsion, he was indicted on 23 federal charges related to fraud.Fetterman says he sent ‘ethically-challenged’ Menendez a Cameo video from Santos, The Hill Santos was the first representative to be expelled in two decades and the first since the Civil War to be expelled before any criminal conviction.

Nominees New York does not use primary elections when filling vacancies. Instead, party officials in the affected counties (in this case, Nassau and Queens) are responsible for choosing nominees.

Democratic Party Democrats selected Tom Suozzi as the party's nominee on December 7, 2023. He had previously represented the district in the House from 2017 to 2023. Before that, he served as the Nassau County executive and the mayor of Glen Cove, and had run for governor in 2006 and 2022.

Republican Party On December 14, 2023, Republicans selected Mazi Melesa Pilip as their nominee to replace Santos. She previously served in the Israel Defense Forces, and has represented the 10th legislative district in the Nassau County Legislature since 2022. She was a registered Democrat who held office as a Republican.

Minor parties New York allows fusion voting in elections, prompting minor parties to nominate candidates on their ballot lines. The Conservative Party of New York State nominated Pilip. Suozzi declined to seek the support of the Working Families Party, despite having accepted the party's nomination in past election cycles.

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportJanuary 23, 2024 Inside Elections February 9, 2024 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 7, 2024 Elections Daily February 5, 2024 CNalysis February 12, 2024

Endorsements

Debate 2024 New York's 3rd congressional district special election debates Date Host Moderator Links Republican Democratic Participant   Absent   Non-invitee   Invitee Withdrawn Mazi Melesa Pilip Tom Suozzi 1 February 8, 2024 News 12 Long Island Rich Barrabi YouTube

News 12 Long Island hosted a debate between Suozzi and Pilip on February 8, 2024. Suozzi's campaign had proposed additional debates to be hosted by WABC-TV, WNBC, and NY1. However, Pilip declined to participate in any of them, telling The Jewish Star that she did not have much time for debates given the short campaign schedule.

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2023CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMazi Pilip (R)$1,342,835$714,273$628,561Tom Suozzi (D)$4,514,693$2,360,689$2,217,239Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Mazi MelesaPilip (R) TomSuozzi (D) UndecidedJL PartnersJL PartnersFebruary 10–12, 2024500 (LV)± 4.4%45%46%9%Siena CollegeSiena CollegeFebruary 3–6, 2024694 (LV)± 4.2%44%48%7%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeFebruary 4–5, 2024742 (VLV/AV)± 3.5%47%50%3%48%52%–Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeJanuary 13–15, 2024975 (RV)± 3.1%42%45%9%Opinion Diagnostics (R)Opinion Diagnostics (R)November 30, 2023900 (LV)± 3.3%40%43%17%

Kellen Curry vs. Tom Suozzi Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KellenCurry (R) TomSuozzi (D) UndecidedOpinion Diagnostics (R)November 30, 2023900 (LV)± 3.3%39%43%18%

Mike Sapraicone vs. Tom Suozzi Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeSapraicone (R) TomSuozzi (D) UndecidedOpinion Diagnostics (R)November 30, 2023900 (LV)± 3.3%38%45%17%

Results Ultimately, Tom Suozzi won the special election by 8%. The race further narrowed the already slim advantage Republicans had in the United States House of Representatives. Some believed that a winter storm might have helped Suozzi, since Suozzi did better in the early votes and Pilip did better on Election Day.

County SuozziDemocratic PilipRepublican Write-in Margin Total votes # %#%#%#%Nassau 77,575 52.61 69,610 47.21 256 0.18 7,965 5.40 147,441Queens 15,608 61.52 9,680 38.16 81 0.32 5,928 23.37 25,369 Total93,18353.92 79,290 45.88 337 0.20 13,893 8.04 172,810

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites Mazi Melesa Pilip (R) Tom Suozzi (D)