BETHPAGE, NY — Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and Republican challenger Mike LiPetri faced off Tuesday night in a News 12 debate ahead of the Nov. 3 election for New York's 3rd Congressional District, clashing over affordability, congressional stock trading, immigration enforcement and President Donald Trump's policies.
The candidates, who also faced each other in 2024, challenged each other's records and independence from party leadership during the debate, moderated by News 12 political reporter Rich Barrabi at Optimum headquarters in Bethpage. The district covers parts of Nassau County, northeastern Queens and northwestern Suffolk County, including portions of Huntington.
Suozzi, a former Nassau County executive and Glen Cove mayor, defeated LiPetri, a former state assemblyman, in 2024 with 187,651 votes to LiPetri's 174,693. The rematch comes as both parties seek control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Suozzi opened by stressing his bipartisan approach and endorsements from Newsday and the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association.
"I reject extremism, " Suozzi said. "I try to find common ground. I try to work across party lines to get things done."
LiPetri challenged that description, pointing to Suozzi's votes on taxes, voter identification and congressional stock trading, while emphasizing his endorsement from the Glen Cove Police Benevolent Association.
"Tom is about self-service, not public service," LiPetri said. "He sells us out while making millions of dollars trading stocks while in Congress."
Affordability And Grocery Prices
When asked to provide concrete solutions to Long Island's high cost of living, LiPetri proposed making child care, diapers and baby formula tax-deductible. The 36-year-old Farmingdale resident said he wants to purchase a home and raise a family on Long Island.
"What I want to do is make sure that we help raise our families, not raise our taxes," LiPetri said.
Suozzi blamed much of the current cost pressure on tariffs, the war in Iran, federal debt and changes in health care funding. He called for reducing tariffs on U.S. allies and developing a plan to wind down the war.
"The bottom line is your prices are higher now because of the tariffs," Suozzi said.
When asked about grocery bills, Suozzi said tariffs on food imports and higher diesel prices were raising costs, although he supported targeted tariffs on China and industries such as steel.
LiPetri argued that inflation also surged during former President Joe Biden's administration and said reducing electricity costs, ending New York City's congestion pricing and increasing food and livestock supplies would help.
"Remove congestion pricing," LiPetri said. "Bring down electricity costs. Build out supply for both fruits and vegetables as well as meats."
Suozzi acknowledged prices rose during Biden's presidency but maintained Trump's tariff and foreign policies were contributing to continued increases.
Congressional Stock Trading
When asked how to prevent officials from financially benefiting from public office, the candidates had one of their most pointed exchanges.
"First and foremost, you have to ban congressional stock trading," LiPetri said. "My opponent voted no to that."
LiPetri alleged that Suozzi made millions trading stocks while serving in Congress. Suozzi said he supports bipartisan legislation to prohibit congressional stock trading but acknowledged voting against the Stop Insider Trading Act in July.
"I think we should ban congressional stock trading, and I'm on multiple bipartisan bills to ban congressional stock trading," Suozzi said.
The House approved the bill 232-198 on July 22, with 13 Democrats voting in favor and Suozzi voting against. The measure combined trading restrictions with federal voter-identification provisions.
Suozzi called the added requirements a partisan "poison pill" that could keep eligible people from voting.
"I think voter ID is a good idea, but not when it's done in a partisan way just to try and scare people and push people off the voting rolls," Suozzi said.
LiPetri maintained the measure would help ensure only citizens vote, and disputed Suozzi's description of its effects on married women who change their names.
"Keeping illegal aliens off the voter rolls and ensuring only American citizens vote in our elections," LiPetri said. "That makes common sense."
When pressed about his own financial history, Suozzi said he made successful investments when he left Congress in 2023 and that an ethics committee cleared him over late disclosures.
"I haven't traded a single stock since January of 2025," Suozzi said.
A March 17, 2026, disclosure filed with the House Clerk lists four stock sales dated Feb. 18, 2026, in an IRA under Suozzi's name. The filing does not indicate who directed the sales.
Party Loyalty And Trump
LiPetri, who has Trump's endorsement, was asked whether he would oppose the administration when doing so was in his district's interest.
"When it helped my district, I supported it," LiPetri said of his record in the Assembly. "When it hurt my district, I'm against it. I'm here to be a congressman, not somebody that just follows and does whatever they say."
Suozzi repeatedly challenged him to name Trump policies he opposed, citing tariffs, the Iran war, health care cuts, federal spending, and pardons related to Jan. 6. LiPetri identified a disagreement with Trump's decision involving Russian diesel fuel and sanctions.
LiPetri accused Suozzi of following Democratic leadership and failing to challenge the party's progressive wing. Suozzi disputed the characterization, citing his opposition to democratic socialism and his role in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
"I've actually started a movement in the country to fight against the far left of the Democratic Party," Suozzi said.
Immigration And ICE
On immigration, Suozzi proposed permanently securing the border, changing the asylum system and allowing certain longtime undocumented immigrants without criminal records to earn work authorization after paying taxes and a fine, distinguishing the proposal from citizenship.
"I agree with the president that we have to secure the border and we have to do it permanently, not just by executive order," Suozzi said.
LiPetri called the work-authorization proposal mass amnesty, questioned its potential cost and advocated stricter enforcement.
"We have to close the asylum loophole, end catch and release, and remove the people who are here illegally," LiPetri said.
The candidates also disagreed over ICE operations on Long Island. Nassau County ended its formal 287(g) agreement with ICE in August after a new state law restricted local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. County officials said they would continue cooperating with federal authorities where legally permitted.
"I think it's extremely important that we have federal law enforcement and local law enforcement to be able to work together," LiPetri said.
Suozzi said he supports removing violent criminals but raised concerns about excessive force, family separation and agent training.
"We are squandering the success that we have with securing the border by treating people so poorly," Suozzi said.
When asked whether ICE tactics needed reform, LiPetri acknowledged that training could be improved but reiterated emphasis on victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
Health Care And The Essential Plan
Suozzi criticized federal changes to Affordable Care Act premium assistance and Medicaid, arguing that reduced subsidies were making health insurance more expensive and leaving fewer Americans covered.
"Everybody knows healthcare has been expensive for a long time, but now it's ballooning because of the policies of this administration," Suozzi said.
LiPetri defended efforts to reduce fraud in government-supported health care programs and restrict benefits to eligible recipients, arguing that federal resources should be directed toward those most in need.
The candidates also disagreed over recent changes to New York's Essential Plan. Suozzi pointed to federal funding cuts, saying the program had been eliminated, while LiPetri maintained that eligibility had returned to its previous income threshold.
According to the New York State Department of Health, 450,000 New Yorkers earning between 200 and 250 percent of the federal poverty level lost eligibility on July 1, while the program continued providing coverage to approximately 1.3 million residents earning below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Israel And The War In Iran
Both candidates voiced support for Israel while differing over antisemitism in American politics.
LiPetri criticized the Democratic Party's left wing, called for more education about antisemitism and said international students promoting antisemitic hatred should be removed from the country.
"Most importantly, we have to start with educating our youth," LiPetri said.
Suozzi cited his record supporting Israel and legislation protecting access to houses of worship. He said he disagreed with some actions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but would not withdraw support from Israel because of those differences.
"I want to say very clearly that I am 100% unequivocally pro-Israel, and I will not back down," Suozzi said.
On Iran, LiPetri defended military pressure and criticized Biden-era sanctions policies, arguing that Iran had been allowed to strengthen itself and its proxies.
"Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. That's period," LiPetri said.
Suozzi agreed Iran presents a threat but criticized Trump's decision to expand military action without a clearer strategy and greater consultation with Congress and allies, saying disruptions to oil shipments had contributed to fuel costs.
"You're supposed to talk to your allies before you go to war," Suozzi said. "We can't just pull out tomorrow. We have to phase out."
Women's Sports, Public Safety And Local Issues
Both candidates opposed transgender women participating in competitive women's sports, but disagreed over how restrictions should be adopted. LiPetri favored legislation and praised Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's restrictions at county facilities.
"Boys should never play in girls' sports. Period," LiPetri said.
Suozzi said he would consider bipartisan legislation but favored a significant role for school boards and athletic organizations, while cautioning against intrusive examinations of young athletes.
"I don't want to demonize transgender people," Suozzi said.
On public safety, LiPetri proposed tougher penalties, including the death penalty for killing police officers, murder charges against certain drug dealers whose sales cause fatal overdoses and increased mandatory minimum sentences for illegal gun possession.
"We got to send the message that we're going to be tough on crime," LiPetri said.
Suozzi instead called for more federal funding to help local governments hire police officers, along with better training and community policing.
"I think we have plenty of laws in place," Suozzi said. "We just need to do a better job enforcing those laws."
Both candidates supported eliminating the federal cap on state and local tax deductions and opposed the commutation of former Rep. George Santos' sentence. Asked what Long Island issue needed more attention, Suozzi named senior citizens' long-term care needs, while LiPetri pointed to drinking water quality.
Both said data centers should be subject to safeguards. Suozzi discussed national standards for water and energy impacts; LiPetri emphasized local governments' authority to approve or reject projects. They also urged safeguards around police surveillance technologies.
Closing Statements
Suozzi closed by calling for compromise and cooperation on affordability, immigration, artificial intelligence and international conflicts.
"I won't sacrifice my values, but I'll do whatever I can to try and make people's lives better," Suozzi said.
LiPetri argued that a change in representation was needed and warned that Democratic control of the House would empower the party's progressive wing.
"It's time for a change for the next generation to have a voice for all of us," LiPetri said.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 24.
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