Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) knows that Democrats have a branding problem. But the centrist, who represents a Long Island-area seat that President Donald Trump won in 2024, is encouraged by his party’s messaging as the midterms approach.
During our recent interview, the 63-year-old Suozzi said last fall’s government shutdown showdown over the ACA tax credits was the “perfect fixer” for streamlining Democrats’ messaging problems.
“We talked about affordability — the number one issue in America — of health care, which is number five. And it’s an issue we happen to have credibility on,” Suozzi said. “The Democrats are doing better than they have been doing.”
Suozzi is no stranger to high-profile, toss-up elections. After ditching his House seat for an unsuccessful gubernatorial run, Suozzi won a heavily contested special election in February 2024 following former Rep. George Santos’ (R-N.Y.) expulsion. In that race, Suozzi leaned in on immigration. Suozzi now thinks 2026 will be about the high cost of living.
We’ll note that in the months since the fall shutdown, Democratic affordability messaging has been muddled by the ongoing DHS shutdown and ICE controversies that have captivated the country.
Reelection watch. Republicans didn’t spend heavily in November 2024 to knock off Suozzi, and the Democratic incumbent beat GOP candidate Michael LiPetri by four points. But Trump’s win in the district by 19,000 votes has given Republicans hope they could unseat Suozzi this year.
Last month, NRCC Chair Richard Hudson singled out Suozzi’s seat as a top GOP target. Suozzi said he’s in “for a real race,” exacerbated by the heat he takes from his left and right flanks.
“I have to always deal with the fact that some of my far-left is not happy with me and then the Republicans are going to say bad stuff about me just because I’m a Democrat,” Suozzi said. “When you’re in the middle of the road, you know what happens? You get run over.”
Progressive backlash. Suozzi’s issues with the left were on full display when he voted to fund DHS in January. After facing a backlash back home, Suozzi apologized for “failing to recognize that this vote was viewed as a referendum on the illegal and moral behavior of ICE.”
“It was a very, very bad time. I got a lot of very negative responses to it,” Suozzi reflected. But after meeting with local activists who he’s long engaged with since his time as mayor of Glen Cove, N.Y., Suozzi insisted, “I’m fine.”
“The groups are with me locally. They realize how important my seat is. I have people against me on the left, but I’m not getting organized efforts against me by the left,” Suozzi said.
Suozzi still expects Republicans to paint him as too left-wing, despite his moderate brand.
“They’re going to put Zohran Mamdani on every piece of literature with me,” Suozzi said, noting he’s long opposed the New York City mayor. “In my district, they don’t like Zohran Mamdani.”
Another wrinkle in New York’s 3rd District? The GOP gubernatorial candidate is Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who represents parts of Suozzi’s district. Republicans hope Blakeman’s coattails will boost downballot races in the New York City suburbs, much like former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) in 2022.
