Suozzi Defeats Trump-Backed LiPetri in Long Island Rematch
Suozzi’s victory was a wider margin than his 2024 win, when he defeated LiPetri by three percentage points. The Republican challenger, a former state Assembly member, had benefited this year from more than $10 million in spending by Trump-aligned political action committees and the Republican Party, as well as public support from President Trump’s allies. The White House had targeted Suozzi for defeat, and Vice President JD Vance visited the district in June to criticize him and promote LiPetri.
The race featured sharp disputes over taxes and federal spending. LiPetri criticized Suozzi for opposing legislation that included an increase to the federal deduction cap for state and local taxes. Suozzi argued that the bill also contained provisions that would reduce spending on social services. He presented himself as bipartisan and accused LiPetri of serving Trump.
Suozzi also sought to distinguish himself from the Democratic Party’s left wing, criticizing the Democratic Socialists of America and saying capitalism had lifted more people out of poverty than any other system. He skipped an October campaign appearance with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, citing a scheduling conflict.
Suozzi’s win was the closest of five U.S. House races involving Queens. Democrats retained all five seats representing the borough. In the broader House contest, a University of Virginia election forecast estimated on November 4 that 239 districts were secured by or leaning Democratic, compared with 196 secured by or leaning Republican; many races remained undecided.
Suozzi Beats Trump-Backed Challenger Despite Millions in GOP Spending
Long Island voters returned Suozzi to Congress, rejecting a challenger backed by President Trump and a major Republican spending effort. Unofficial state results gave the Democratic incumbent 53.8% to LiPetri’s 43.7%, a stronger showing than Suozzi’s three-point win over him in 2024.
Trump-aligned political action committees and the Republican Party spent more than $10 million to help LiPetri, while the White House had spent months targeting Suozzi. Vice President JD Vance also visited the district in June to attack the incumbent and promote his opponent. The result showed that high-profile backing and heavy spending did not carry the race for the Republican challenger.
The contest also exposed the stakes of the parties’ competing approaches to taxes and public services. LiPetri faulted Suozzi for opposing a bill that included a higher federal cap on deductions for state and local taxes. Suozzi countered that the legislation also contained provisions that would cut social-service spending.
Suozzi described himself as bipartisan and accused LiPetri of being beholden to Trump. He also distanced himself from the Democratic Party’s left wing, criticizing the Democratic Socialists of America and defending capitalism. Suozzi’s victory was the closest of five House races involving Queens, where Democrats held all five seats.
Suozzi Holds His Seat as Democrats Keep Queens House Delegation
Suozzi won another term in Congress, defeating LiPetri in a rematch despite a Republican effort to unseat him. Unofficial state results put Suozzi at 53.8% and LiPetri at 43.7%. The incumbent’s margin improved on his three-point victory in 2024, but the race remained the closest of the five House contests involving Queens.
LiPetri had criticized Suozzi for voting against legislation that included a higher federal cap on deductions for state and local taxes. Suozzi defended his opposition by pointing to other parts of the bill that he said would hurt constituents through reduced social-service spending. The dispute underscored the trade-offs in the legislation, rather than settling them.
Suozzi campaigned as a bipartisan Democrat and sought to separate himself from the party’s left wing. He criticized the Democratic Socialists of America and defended capitalism. His win came after Trump-aligned groups and the Republican Party spent more than $10 million backing LiPetri, and after Vice President JD Vance visited the district to criticize Suozzi and promote the challenger.
Democrats also held the other four House seats representing Queens. In the wider fight for control of the House, a University of Virginia forecast on November 4 put 239 districts in the Democratic-secured-or-leaning column and 196 in the Republican column, with many races still undecided.
Reported by New York Post, amNY, The Washington Examiner.
