Suozzi’s NY victory brings hope to Dems nationwide on immigration
Former New York Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi’s Victory Provides Roadmap for National Democrats
Former New York Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi’s victory in a suburban New York district on Tuesday night could provide national Democrats with a road map heading into the November election. Suozzi, who easily defeated Republican opponent Mazi Pilip to replace expelled former Republican Rep. George Santos, made immigration a centerpiece of his campaign, going on the offensive on the thorny issue that has been vexing Democrats and President Joe Biden.
As illegal border crossings reached record levels in December and a surge of immigrants flooded into New York, Suozzi flipped the narrative, blaming Republicans for playing political games after they rejected a bipartisan immigration deal in recent days, which the New York Democrat has said he would support.
Throughout his campaign, Suozzi advocated tougher border policy and often spoke about closing the U.S.-Mexico border to slow the influx of immigrants. He also took his opponent head-on, rushing to a migrant shelter in Queens to hold a press conference in response to statements from Pilip that linked him to the nation’s border crisis.
“Stop running around for Trump and start running the country,” Suozzi said, slamming Republicans in his victory speech on Tuesday.
Immigration has become one of the top election-year concerns for voters, and that was reflected across the television ads in the special election, according to Ad Impact, an advertising tracking firm.
Pilip went after Suozzi in ads on immigration issues, highlighting New York City’s woes in getting the influx of asylum-seekers under control. However, Suozzi and his allies fought back, and a political action committee supporting him ran ads touting his previous work on bipartisan immigration legislation.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) even acknowledged Suozzi seemed to have broken through with voters on the immigration issue.
“He sounded like a Republican, talking about the border and immigration,” Johnson said on Wednesday, speaking with reporters. “Everybody knows, that’s the top issue.”
Suozzi’s victory, which occurred in a district where Republicans have won every major election in the last three years, narrowed the Republican House majority to 219-213.
Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist based in New York, said national Democrats should follow Suozzi’s lead by tackling immigration head-on.
“Stop burying your head in the ground. This is one of the most important issues to voters. Tom Suozzi is giving you a playbook; rip a page out of it,” Reinish said. “It’s been a pet peeve of mine for so long — what Washington Democrats sort of live in the politics of 25 years ago, where you can just sort of ignore an issue and it’s going to go away. It’s not.”
“The border is a top issue for voters — crime and public safety, top issues for voters. Go and talk about it, confront the issue, and don’t cede ground and let the Republicans own it,” he added.
While many Democrats may view Suozzi’s win with a rosy outlook heading into a critical election year, others believe this special election result isn’t a great indicator of what is to come for national Democrats.
New York-based Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf points out that Pilip was not a very strong opponent, particularly after her initial financial disclosure drew scrutiny and was missing required information.
“His opponent had an ethical issue akin to what Santos experienced, the financial disclosure. And that was a lucky, lucky stroke at the end,” Sheinkopf said.
Sheinkopf also points out that Suozzi, 61, has spent nearly three decades in public office and is well known by the community, which could have contributed to his win. In addition, Democrats outspent Republicans 2-to-1 in the race.
“He and the Democrats probably spent $14 [million] to $15 million. That’s an awful amount of money; it’s an extraordinary amount of money,” he said. “If Republicans can raise more than Democrats, which is likely, it’ll be harder for Democrats to break through on the migration issue. It also depends on if crime is up by migrants in particular areas.”
However, many believe Suozzi’s win represents a path for other moderate Democratic candidates in swing districts, particularly those where a surge of immigrants is straining local resources.
“I would immediately seize what I’m now comfortable calling the Suozzi playbook — and Joe Biden should do the exact same thing. So should Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Tammy Baldwin, etc.,” Reinish said.
How does Tom Suozzi’s success in addressing immigration in his campaign provide a roadmap for national Democrats in future elections?
Don’t seem to get is that immigration is a crucial issue for many voters.”
The success of Suozzi’s campaign in addressing immigration resonates with the current challenges faced by national Democrats. President Biden has been grappling with the border crisis since taking office, with a surge of immigrants seeking asylum and illegal border crossings reaching heights not seen in decades. This issue has become a thorny problem for Democrats, as they struggle to find consensus on the best approach to address immigration reform. Suozzi’s victory provides a roadmap for national Democrats by showcasing the effectiveness of a tough stance on immigration. By centering his campaign on this issue, Suozzi was able to capture the attention of voters and present himself as a voice of reason and action. Rather than shying away from the difficult conversations surrounding immigration, Suozzi embraced them, advocating for tougher border policies and calling for the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to control the influx of immigrants. In doing so, Suozzi successfully pushed back against his Republican opponent, Mazi Pilip, who attempted to link him to the border crisis. Suozzi’s visit to a migrant shelter in Queens and his subsequent press conference conveyed a strong message to voters that he was actively engaged in addressing the issue and committed to finding solutions. This proactive approach resonated with voters, who saw Suozzi as a candidate willing to take action rather than engaging in political gamesmanship. The significance of immigration as an election-year concern was evident in the television ads aired during the special election. Both Suozzi and his opponent focused on immigration-related issues, reflecting the importance voters place on this topic. Suozzi’s ability to effectively respond to Pilip’s attacks on immigration and highlight his previous work on bipartisan immigration legislation through television ads solidified his position as a candidate with a clear stance on the issue. Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, acknowledged Suozzi’s success in addressing immigration. Johnson noted that Suozzi adopted a Republican-like approach by emphasizing border security and immigration, which resonated with voters. This recognition from a Republican figure underscores the power of Suozzi’s strategy and the potential success it holds for national Democrats. Suozzi’s victory is particularly significant as it occurred in a district that has traditionally been in Republican hands. Winning in such a district, where Republicans have dominated major elections in recent years, demonstrates the potential of a strong position on immigration to sway voters across party lines. Democratic strategist Jon Reinish emphasizes the importance for national Democrats to heed Suozzi’s example. By tackling immigration head-on and acknowledging its significance to voters, Democrats can engage with a broader base of support. Reinish urges Democrats to abandon their reluctance to address immigration and instead embrace it as a crucial issue. Suozzi’s campaign serves as a playbook for Democrats, offering a blueprint for navigating the complexities of immigration and resonating with voters. In conclusion, Former New York Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi’s victory in addressing immigration provides national Democrats with a roadmap for the upcoming November election. By actively engaging with the immigration issue and presenting a tough stance, Suozzi captivated voters and demonstrated the effectiveness of such a position. Suozzi’s success in a traditionally Republican district indicates the potential for Democrats to sway voters by prioritizing immigration. It is now crucial for national Democrats to follow Suozzi’s lead, embracing the importance of immigration and addressing it head-on as one of the key concerns for voters.
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