'Name Recognition' Lifts Suozzi In Special Election Race: Expert

GLEN COVE, NY — The clock is ticking on the campaigning for the special election to replace George Santos in Congress. The race between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Melesa Pilip culminates with the election on Feb. 13.

For Suozzi, a win would be a return to the 3rd Congressional District after focusing on his failed run for governor last year. Pilip, an Ethiopian Jew from Israel, is a Nassau County Legislator from Great Neck.

"It's really important to be as accessible as possible," Naysa Woomer, a former communications director for Santos, told Patch. "She has a very local presence, which is great. But she now has to switch it over into congressional candidate mode."

Pilip, running as a Republican despite as a registered Democrat, was not planning to campaign for Congress until the announcement last week.

"Name recognition is a huge thing right now," Woomer said.

Pilip faces a challenge getting her name to the electorate, but Woomer said it's time for door-knocking and town halls to get her face in front of voters.

Suozzi is a known community having been in politics for three decades since he was mayor of Glen Cove. But Woomer lays some of the Santos blame at Suozzi's feet.

"[He] failed to take his 2020 reelection seriously. He could have prevented everything in regards to George Santos," Woomer said. "If he had actually looked into his opponent and had exposed these lies three years ago, then there wouldn't be a special election right now. He does need to be held accountable for this."

The Suozzi camp did not respond to that accusation.

"It should not be a simple breeze back to the old office," Woomer said.