LEVITTOWN, NY — Tom Suozzi kicked off his campaign Saturday to regain his seat in Congress. The former 3rd Congressional District representative, flanked by several union members, told Patch that he had no intentions to run for office again, “and then George Santos became the biggest story in the country.”
Suozzi said that led to a flood of calls from people encouraging him to run.
“You think of the Congress not getting anything done, and the approval rating is going down and down. Then you add someone like George Santos on top of that. I give up on the whole thing,” Suozzi said of wanting to have civil discourse on Capitol Hill. “We have to bring that back. That’s what this whole campaign is going to be about.”
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Using the slogan “Let’s Fix This!” Suozzi said his constituents “have a sense of dread about affordability.” Another concern is the increasing stormy weather, causing more serious damage to homes.
The former Nassau County Executive also discussed the migrant crisis that both parties, he said, “have failed to address.”
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Suozzi looks to flip the vulnerable seat blue in the special election on Feb. 13 and finish out Santos’ term. Should he win that race against a republican candidate, who is expected to be named next week, Suozzi will “absolutely” campaign for the general election in November.
Even though Santos is off the ballot and expelled from Congress, the wounds from his lies and indictments are still fresh for many people, including Suozzi, who said he’s earned the voters’ trust.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Suozzi said. “I’ve been fighting for people in every job I did.”
Suozzi, who met with Gov. Hochul before getting the nod from Democratic leaders in Queens and Nassau, said they are now in a “very good” place.” However, he was noncommittal about her campaigning for him.
“She’s got a whole, big state to worry about,” Suozzi said.
Suozzi, 61, who failed in his two gubernatorial bids, including last year against Hochul, said he has no plans to catapult the congressional seat into another shot at higher office.
“I’m not running for Senate and I’m not running for governor,” Suozzi said.
The 3rd District covers parts of Northern Queens and the northern half of Nassau County.
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