Suozzi Declared Projected Winner In Special Election For Santos' Seat

GLEN COVE, NY — It was a hard-fought race, but in the end, Democrat Tom Suozzi is back in politics, defeating Mazi Pilip, who challenged him in a special election for the 3rd District congressional seat formerly held by disgraced Republican George Santos.

"Thank God," Suozzi told supporters in his victory speech Tuesday night.

Soon after the polls closed, the former congressman was declared the projected winner, filling the void left by George Santos' ouster 10 weeks ago and flipping the seat blue.

As of 11 p.m., Suozzi held a 9-point lead over his opponent — 83,000 to 70,200 votes — with 88 percent of districts in, according to the New York State Board of Elections.

"Despite all the attacks, despite all the lies about Tom Suozzi and 'The Squad,' about Tom Suozzi being the Godfather of the Migrant Crisis, about 'Sanctuary' Suozzi," he said in his speech. "Despite the dirty tricks, despite the vaunted Nassau County Republican machine, we won!"

Pilip, a Nassau County legislator who served in the Israel Defense Forces after leaving her homeland of Ethiopia, conceded by saying, in her speech: "Yes, we lost, but it doesn't mean we are going to end here," she said.

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson said, in an emailed statement, "Pilip is a fighter with a bright future within the Republican Party."

Suozzi reflected on his win during his speech late Tuesday night: "We won this race because we addressed the issues and we found a way to bind our divisions," Suozzi said. "Now we have to carry the message of this campaign to the United States Congress and across our entire country."

According to a Tweet by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, the Biden campaign said of the Suozzi victory: "Donald Trump lost again. When Republicans run on Trump's extreme agenda — even in a Republican-held seat — voters reject them."

Suozzi will fill the remainder of Santos' term until the election in November.