Suozzi Claims 3rd District Seat After Narrow Win Over LiPetri
The Glen Cove Democrat defeats the Farmingdale Republican in a race focused on Long Island affordability and infrastructure.
By Natalia Costa ·
Tom Suozzi won a sixth term representing New York’s 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Mike LiPetri. The result settles a contested race that placed Long Island’s financial pressures at the center of the national political conversation. LiPetri, a former state Assembly member, has not yet conceded the election.
The district covers northeastern Queens, the North Shore of Nassau County, and parts of the Town of Huntington. Suozzi, a Democrat from Glen Cove, has held the seat since 2017, with a brief absence during his unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial bid. LiPetri, a Republican from Farmingdale, served one term in the state Assembly before entering the federal race.
Suozzi addressed supporters at The Inn at New Hyde Park on Tuesday night. He joked that the election result meant nobody would receive their promised $5,000 check, but noted that democracy functioned as intended. He thanked God for his family and the outcome of the vote.
The campaign focused on the rising cost of living, property taxes, and healthcare access. Suozzi promoted a five-point American Affordability Plan that included eliminating tariffs, addressing the federal deficit, expanding energy production, and restoring health insurance premium tax credits. He also pushed to raise or repeal the state and local tax deduction cap, a key concern for homeowners in the region.
Suozzi cited specific federal funding wins for the district. He secured more than $40 million for clean water infrastructure, including PFAS filtration projects, and $16.8 million for environmental community projects. Federal funding for the Long Island Sound increased from $4 million to $40 million annually under his tenure. He also secured $34 million for the Navy Grumman Plume environmental cleanup fund.
Legislative efforts during the campaign included the Social Security Commission Act, which Suozzi introduced with U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma). The bill would create a bipartisan commission to recommend solutions for the program’s financial stability. Suozzi also championed the WISH Act, a plan to use public-private partnerships to finance long-term care insurance for seniors with disabilities.
LiPetri campaigned on lowering taxes and reducing government regulation. He argued that residents needed greater financial relief and criticized Suozzi’s voting record on tax legislation. LiPetri also emphasized his support for law enforcement, citing his record in the state Assembly where he opposed bills he viewed as harmful to police departments.
