Tom Suozzi

Tom Suozzi
Official portrait, 2024
Tom Suozzi
Born	Thomas Richard Suozzi 31 8, 1962
Birthplace	Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	U.S. Representative for New York's 3rd congressional district, Nassau County Executive
Education	Boston College (BS) Fordham University (JD)
Children	3
Awards	Governing magazine Public Official of the Year

Thomas Richard Suozzi (born August 31, 1962) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district since February 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Suozzi has built a political career spanning more than three decades on Long Island, rising from mayor of his hometown of Glen Cove to Nassau County executive and then to the United States Congress. His political trajectory has been marked by a willingness to tackle fiscal challenges, a centrist approach to governance, and repeated returns to public life after electoral setbacks. Suozzi first represented the 3rd district from 2017 to 2023 before vacating the seat to pursue a gubernatorial bid. He reclaimed the seat in a closely watched February 2024 special election following the expulsion of George Santos from Congress, a race that drew national attention as a bellwether for suburban political sentiment. His district encompasses northern Nassau County and portions of northeastern Queens, areas that have long served as competitive battlegrounds in New York politics.

Early Life

Thomas Richard Suozzi was born on August 31, 1962, in Glen Cove, a small city on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County. He grew up in a family with deep roots in local politics; his father, Joseph A. Suozzi, served as a judge and was a prominent figure in the Glen Cove community. The elder Suozzi's career in public service provided a formative influence on the younger Suozzi's trajectory toward government and law.

Glen Cove, a city of roughly 27,000 residents situated along Hempstead Harbor and the Long Island Sound, had long been a diverse community with a mix of working-class and affluent neighborhoods. Growing up there exposed Suozzi to the suburban political dynamics that would later define his career. The city's challenges—including economic development, environmental issues, and fiscal management—would become recurring themes throughout his decades in public office.

Education

Suozzi attended Boston College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently enrolled at Fordham University School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education prepared him for a career that would alternate between law practice and public service. Before entering electoral politics, Suozzi worked as an attorney, developing expertise that would inform his approach to governance, particularly in the areas of fiscal policy and municipal management.

Career

Mayor of Glen Cove (1994–2001)

Suozzi entered electoral politics in 1993 when he ran for mayor of Glen Cove. He won the race and took office on January 1, 1994, succeeding Donald DeRiggi. At the age of 31, Suozzi became one of the youngest mayors in the city's history. He would serve two terms as mayor, holding the office until December 31, 2001.

During his tenure as mayor, Suozzi confronted several significant municipal challenges. One of the most prominent issues involved the Glen Cove incinerator, a waste-to-energy facility that had become a source of controversy in the community. In 1996, the first closing of the incinerator renewed public debate about garbage disposal methods on Long Island, with Suozzi playing a central role in navigating the politically charged issue. The incinerator dispute drew significant attention and was emblematic of the environmental and fiscal tensions facing Long Island communities during the period.

Suozzi also pursued waterfront redevelopment as a central component of his mayoral agenda. By 2000, Glen Cove was actively seeking investors for its waterfront properties, an effort to transform underutilized industrial areas along the harbor into economically productive spaces. The initiative represented an attempt to modernize the city's economic base and increase its tax revenue while preserving its character as a residential community.

His eight years as mayor established Suozzi as a rising figure in Long Island Democratic politics. His hands-on approach to municipal governance—dealing with everything from waste management to economic development—provided a foundation for his subsequent bid for higher office.

Nassau County Executive (2002–2009)

In 2001, Suozzi ran for Nassau County executive, the top elected position in one of the most populous suburban counties in the United States. Nassau County had been experiencing a severe fiscal crisis, with its finances teetering on the brink of what observers described as a near-meltdown that had its roots in the late 1990s. Suozzi defeated the incumbent Republican, Thomas Gulotta, and took office on January 1, 2002.

As county executive, Suozzi made fiscal reform his primary focus. He inherited a county government that had been placed under the oversight of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA), a state-created control board established to manage the county's debt crisis. Suozzi worked to stabilize Nassau's finances, reduce expenditures, and restore the county's fiscal credibility. His efforts in this area attracted national recognition; Governing magazine named him a Public Official of the Year for his work in turning around Nassau County's financial situation.

A 2006 profile in The New York Times examined Suozzi's record and persona beyond the fiscal numbers, describing his approach to governance and the political identity he had cultivated as a suburban Democratic executive in a historically Republican county.

Suozzi served as county executive until December 30, 2009, when he was succeeded by Republican Ed Mangano, who defeated him in the 2009 election.

2006 Gubernatorial Campaign

While serving as Nassau County executive, Suozzi launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York in 2006. He positioned himself as a fiscally responsible alternative in the primary, running against then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who entered the race as the heavy favorite.

Suozzi's campaign focused on his record of fiscal management in Nassau County and his centrist policy positions. However, the campaign faced an uphill battle against Spitzer, who had built a national profile as a crusading attorney general who took on Wall Street corruption. In June 2006, The New York Times covered the dynamics of the gubernatorial race, noting the challenges facing Suozzi's underdog candidacy. By late July, polling and political analysis continued to indicate that Spitzer maintained a commanding lead.

Suozzi ultimately lost the Democratic primary to Spitzer, who went on to win the general election in a landslide. Despite the defeat, the gubernatorial campaign raised Suozzi's profile beyond Long Island and demonstrated his willingness to challenge established party figures.

2013 County Executive Campaign

After leaving the county executive's office in 2009, Suozzi spent several years in the private sector. In early 2013, he announced his intention to run again for Nassau County executive, seeking to reclaim the position he had held for two terms.

The 2013 race pitted Suozzi against incumbent Republican Ed Mangano, who had defeated him in 2009. Despite his prior experience and name recognition in the county, Suozzi was unable to unseat Mangano, losing the November general election. The defeat marked Suozzi's second consecutive loss in a bid for executive office.

U.S. House of Representatives: First Tenure (2017–2023)

In 2016, Suozzi entered the race for New York's 3rd congressional district, the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Representative Steve Israel. The district, which spans northern Nassau County and parts of northeastern Queens, was considered competitive territory. Suozzi won the Democratic primary in June 2016, a victory he described as validating his approach to centrist Democratic politics.

During the primary campaign, Suozzi laid out a strategy that emphasized his record in local government and his moderate positioning within the Democratic Party. He received endorsements from several media outlets, including Newsday, which endorsed him for the general election. The Island Now similarly endorsed his candidacy. The New York Times editorial board included Suozzi among its recommended choices in New York congressional primaries in 2016.

Suozzi won the November 2016 general election and took office on January 3, 2017, succeeding Israel. He was subsequently reelected in 2018 and 2020, establishing himself as a durable presence in the competitive suburban district.

During his time in Congress, Suozzi served on several committees and built a legislative record that reflected his centrist orientation. He focused on issues including tax policy—particularly the impact of federal tax changes on high-tax states like New York—immigration, and fiscal responsibility. His approach often placed him in the moderate wing of the House Democratic caucus.

2022 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2021, Suozzi announced that he would not seek reelection to his congressional seat and would instead run for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York in 2022. The decision meant vacating a seat that Democrats had held since 2013 in a district that was becoming increasingly competitive.

The 2022 gubernatorial primary pitted Suozzi against incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, who had assumed office in August 2021 following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo, and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Suozzi campaigned on a platform emphasizing public safety, fiscal discipline, and his executive experience in Nassau County. Despite running an active campaign, he was unable to overcome Hochul's advantages as the incumbent governor, and he lost the primary.

The consequences of Suozzi's departure from the 3rd district were significant. In the November 2022 general election, Republican George Santos won the seat, contributing to a broader Republican wave in New York's suburban districts that helped the party win control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Return to Congress: Special Election (2024)

George Santos's tenure in Congress was marked by scandal. After revelations about fabricated elements of his biography and subsequent federal indictments, the U.S. House voted to expel Santos on December 1, 2023, triggering a special election for the vacant seat. In October 2023, before Santos's expulsion, Suozzi had already announced his intention to run for his former congressional seat in the 2024 general election cycle.

Suozzi was selected as the Democratic nominee for the special election, scheduled for February 13, 2024. The race attracted national attention as a potential indicator of suburban political trends ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Suozzi campaigned on his extensive record in the district, emphasizing issues including immigration enforcement, public safety, and the cost of living—themes that resonated in the suburban communities of the 3rd district.

Suozzi won the special election, defeating his Republican opponent and reclaiming the seat for Democrats. He was sworn in on February 28, 2024, succeeding Santos. The victory was interpreted by political observers as a significant Democratic achievement in a competitive district and was widely covered in national media as evidence of Democratic competitiveness in suburban areas.

Current Congressional Service (2024–present)

Since returning to Congress, Suozzi has continued to focus on issues affecting his suburban Long Island and Queens constituents. He has been vocal on federal tax policy, particularly regarding the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which disproportionately affects residents of high-tax states like New York. In a 2026 statement, Suozzi emphasized his focus on ensuring that New York receives a fair return on its federal tax contributions, stating, "I'm focused on getting New York's tax dollars back."

Suozzi has also engaged with immigration policy, a salient issue in his district. In a 2026 opinion piece published in Newsday, he criticized what he described as ramped-up immigration enforcement measures on Long Island, arguing that the community's primary needs related to the cost of living rather than sweeping deportation programs.

In January 2026, Suozzi drew attention for his vote on a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which he subsequently said he regretted. In comments reported by Politico, Suozzi stated, "I failed," referring to his decision to support the measure. The episode reflected the challenges of navigating between moderate and progressive positions within the Democratic caucus.

On environmental issues, Suozzi has spoken out against the rollback of environmental protections, criticizing the repeal of the "Endangerment Finding" and highlighting its implications for public health and climate policy.

In February 2026, Suozzi honored high school students from the 3rd congressional district for national achievements in science and mathematics, a community engagement effort highlighting educational accomplishment in the district.

In the political arena, Suozzi endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in his 2025 campaign for mayor of New York City, reflecting his longstanding relationships within New York Democratic politics.

Looking ahead to the 2026 election cycle, Suozzi faces the prospect of a competitive reelection campaign. Republican Michael LiPetri, who came close to defeating Suozzi in the 2024 general election, announced in February 2026 that he would seek a rematch, underscoring the continued competitiveness of the 3rd district.

Personal Life

Suozzi was born and raised in Glen Cove, New York, and has maintained deep ties to the Long Island community throughout his career. His father, Joseph A. Suozzi, served as a judge and was a significant figure in local civic life. Tom Suozzi has three children.

Suozzi's political identity has been shaped by his Long Island roots and his Catholic upbringing. He has frequently drawn on themes of community, fiscal responsibility, and pragmatic governance in his public statements and campaigns. His willingness to take moderate positions on issues such as immigration and fiscal policy has at times placed him at odds with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party while positioning him as competitive in the suburban districts that have been central to his career.

Recognition

Suozzi has received recognition for his work in public administration, most notably from Governing magazine, which named him a Public Official of the Year during his tenure as Nassau County executive for his efforts to stabilize the county's troubled finances.

His 2024 special election victory received extensive national media coverage, as it was viewed as a test of Democratic strength in competitive suburban districts. The race drew attention from both parties as a potential bellwether for the broader 2024 election cycle. His ability to reclaim a seat that had been lost to Republicans in 2022 was noted as a significant achievement for the Democratic Party's suburban strategy.

Throughout his career, Suozzi has received endorsements from major editorial boards, including The New York Times, Newsday, and other regional publications, reflecting a broad base of institutional support in the New York media landscape.

Legacy

Tom Suozzi's career illustrates the dynamics of suburban Democratic politics in the New York metropolitan area over three decades. His rise from mayor of a small Long Island city to county executive of one of the nation's largest suburban counties and then to Congress reflects both the opportunities and challenges facing moderate Democrats in historically competitive territory.

His tenure as Nassau County executive, during which he worked to resolve a fiscal crisis that had brought the county to the brink of financial collapse, remains a defining chapter of his career. The recognition he received from Governing magazine for that effort established his reputation as a fiscal manager, a credential he has invoked throughout his subsequent campaigns.

Suozzi's career has also been marked by resilience in the face of electoral defeats. After losing the 2006 gubernatorial primary to Eliot Spitzer, the 2009 county executive race to Ed Mangano, the 2013 rematch against Mangano, and the 2022 gubernatorial primary to Kathy Hochul, Suozzi returned to win the 2024 special election—a trajectory that demonstrates his persistence and the durability of his political base on Long Island.

His 2024 special election victory, following the unprecedented expulsion of George Santos from Congress, placed Suozzi at the center of a nationally significant political moment. The race was interpreted as a test of whether Democrats could compete effectively in suburban districts on issues including immigration and public safety, and Suozzi's victory was seen as providing evidence that moderate Democratic candidates could prevail in such environments.

As he continues to serve in Congress, Suozzi's political future remains tied to the competitive dynamics of New York's 3rd congressional district, a bellwether suburban seat that has changed hands multiple times in recent election cycles.