‘What a Waste’ Rep. Tom Suozzi Says of GOP’s Plan to Target House Seat

Rep. Tom Suozzi thinks it’s a “waste” for the National Republican Congressional Committee to try and target and defeat him in the 2018 midterm elections.

NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers announced Wednesday that Suozzi and 35 other House Democrats “out of touch with their districts” will be targeted for the next 21 months so Republicans can maintain a majority in the House of Representatives.

“Our battle plan will put us on offense in 36 Democrat-held House districts,” Stivers said in a statement. “Our strategy will allow us to be competitive in races throughout the country and achieve our overall goal of keeping Republicans in control of the House.”

Suozzi responded to the NRCC’s plan in a statement on Facebook: “The November elections are barely over and already the Washington politicians have announced they are going after me. What a waste!”

“I am proud of the first month I have served in the United States Congress because I am doing what you sent me there to do,” Suozzi said. “Among other things, I am the Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans who are committed to trying to actually get something done for our constituents instead of spending all of our time fighting with and bashing each other.”

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who covers New York’s 18th Congressional District, was also listed as one of the NRCC’s targets.

Stivers said the success of the government depends of Republicans maintaining a strong majority in the House. "We owe the American people assurance that the agenda we were elected on — healthcare reform, a stronger national defense, and more good-paying jobs – is fulfilled,” he said.

Suozzi defeated Republican Jack Martins in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 election for New York’s 3rd Congressional District to take over Rep. Steve Israel’s seat in Congress after Israel announced in January 2016 that he will not be running for re-election.

Suozzi served as Glen Cove Mayor from 1994-2001 and as Nassau County Executive from 2002-2009. He lives in Glen Cove with his wife and three children.

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Suozzi says he will continue to focus on his job, but says him and the other Democratic members of Congress “better start getting organized. We'll have to just beat these guys again!”

Image via Suozzi