Suozzi, a mainstay of centrist Democratic Party politics, gave up his House seat<\/a> in 2021 to run for governor of New York, making enemies along the way and leaving a solidly blue seat open for Santos, who won a surprise victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n DMFI is one of several pro-Israel groups that has spent millions to fight progressives in congressional elections in recent cycles. In November, the group ran ads attacking Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., for criticizing Israel\u2019s human rights abuses<\/a>, voting against additional funding for weapons to Israel, and opposing a resolution to support Israel after the October 7 attack without mentioning Palestinians killed in the retaliation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suozzi is a staunch supporter of Israel and is leaning into his pro-Israel bona fides. His opponent, Republican candidate Mazi Pilip, also has pro-Israel credentials: She served in the Israel Defense Forces. On Tuesday, Suozzi bucked President Joe Biden and Democratic Party leaders when he announced his support for a House Republican bill that would give additional assistance to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDMFI PAC is working hard to help Tom Suozzi defeat his Republican opponent. Democratic Majority for Israel\u2019s chair hosted him on a trip to Israel in December. DMFI PAC is running an ad campaign for him and is undertaking other efforts as well,\u201d said Rachel Rosen, chief communications officer for DMFI PAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n As Santos\u2019s story started to unravel and Suozzi and other Democrats tested the district\u2019s waters, others voiced concerns<\/a> about welcoming a conservative Democrat<\/a> who had cozied up to Republicans and already cost the party a key House seat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suozzi\u2019s conservative backers argue that he has the best shot at winning back the district and helping Democrats regain seats they lost unexpectedly in 2022. Other Democrats, however, are worried that Suozzi would vote with Republicans anyway. He has supported positions opposing abortion rights and flirted with conservative positions on issues like criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ issues, and immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe best way to beat an opponent in an election is to offer an alternative vision and Suozzi has chosen to campaign as a weaker version of the Republican candidate,\u201d said Will Bailey, an organizer with New York Communities for Change, who handles the group\u2019s Long Island work.\u00a0(Suozzi’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suozzi\u2019s campaign declined<\/a> support from the left-leaning Working Families Party and sent out mailers<\/a> picturing him with former New York Republican Rep. Peter King. That\u2019s a losing strategy for Democrats in the long term, Bailey said: \u201cWith the platform Suozzi is running on, the Republicans will win even if they lose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suozzi\u2019s career has been inseparable from his centrism; he was, for instance, the vice chair of the House Problem Solvers Caucus during his last stint in Congress. Those positions have helped win him support from the mainstream of the Democratic Party: His name was added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s Red to Blue<\/a> plan last month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suozzi has the support of key moderate Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who appeared<\/a> beside Suozzi during a campaign event on Saturday, and New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs<\/a>, who also chairs the Nassau County Democratic Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The centrist group No Labels<\/a>, which has attracted Democrats\u2019 ire for its perceived Republican bent, said<\/a> that Suozzi was the best pick in the New York special election. In December, Santos became the first Republican House member to be expelled from Congress. Three days later, No Labels \u2014 which has courted Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and is preparing to run a third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential election \u2014 held a call with Suozzi about winning his seat back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The former Representative had to work to mend fences with other Democrats after his gubernatorial primary bid against Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022. He had ignored pleas from party leaders to keep his House seat and help Democrats keep their majority in Washington and ended up coming in third place in the gubernatorial primary, behind New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who ran to Suozzi\u2019s left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the platform Suozzi is running on, the Republicans will win even if they lose.\u201d<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Centrist Stalwart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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