WASHINGTON — After a convincing special election victory, New York Democrat Tom Suozzi was sworn into the House of Representatives on Wednesday night to fill the seat vacated by last year’s election. historical expulsion Republican George Santos.
Suozzi’s swearing-in further reduces Republicans’ razor-thin majority in the House – is one of the smallest – 219-213 for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., as he struggles to keep his rank-and-file members and keep the government functioning.
The return of Suozzi, who previously served in the House, means Johnson’s leadership team could be separated by just two GOPs on any given vote if all Democrats vote in opposition. Republicans got it right before the House went on recess for Presidents’ Day impeachment Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by one vote, 214-213, followed he doesn’t make it on the first try.
Suozzi, 61, represented New York’s 3rd District from 2017 to 2023, but left Congress to pursue an unsuccessful bid for governor. An unknown political neophyte, Santos won the Republican swing seat in Long Island and Queens in 2022.
But after the amazing revelations made by Santos He made up large parts of his resume and personal story Ministry of Justice to win the election charged him with 23 articles, including crimes such as wire fraud, falsification of federal records, and money laundering. There is Santos he pleaded not guilty and is set to appear in court in September.
Earlier this month, Suozzi, a former Long Island County executive and mayor, is easily defeated Republican Mazi Philip, in a special election to replace Santos, has given Democrats a boost as they try to regain control of the House this fall.
Immigration and the border are typically a weakness on the ballot for Democrats, but Suozzi faced tough challenges. OKattacks Republicans for walking away from a bipartisan deal to secure the southern border and deal with record numbers of migrant crossings.
“It’s time to work on immigration, Israel and Putin,” Suozzi said at his election night victory party. “Let’s send a message to our friends running Congress these days: Stop running for Trump and start running the country.”
Democrats praised Suozzi’s approach “Road Map for Democrats” in November.
“Tom Suozzi ran a positive campaign. Tom Suozzi talked about solving problems like the problems we have at the border. Tom Suozzi talked about common sense solutions and finding common ground on both sides. Tom Suozzi won,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a fellow New York Democrat, said after the Democrats’ victory.
Rebecca Kaplan and Kyle Stewart contributed.