In a fiery and highly anticipated debate, Republican Mazi Pilip and Democrat Tom Suozzi clashed over abortion and border security in their race to replace George Santos in Congress. The town hall-style debate, hosted by News 12 Long Island, revealed the close race between the two candidates, with recent polls showing them essentially tied with less than a week before the special election on February 13th.
The debate took an intense turn when Pilip declared herself “pro-life” but also emphasized her support for women’s rights. Suozzi questioned her stance on abortion, leading to a heated back-and-forth between the two. Pilip defended her belief that every woman should have the choice to make her own decision regarding abortion, emphasizing that she would not force her own beliefs onto others. Despite Suozzi’s insistence that she should simply say she is “pro-choice,” Pilip stood her ground and reiterated her pro-life stance.
The candidates also clashed on immigration and border security, with Suozzi being labeled as “Sanctuary Suozzi” by a pro-GOP super PAC. Suozzi was forced to defend his decision to remove federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from Nassau County during his time as county executive. He claimed that he made this decision after receiving complaints from the Nassau County police commissioner about ICE agents breaking rules and mistreating residents. Suozzi argued that he was simply fulfilling the request of his police commissioner and denied any allegiance to the far-left “Squad” of House lawmakers. He pointed out that as a congressman in 2018, he voted to fund ICE, demonstrating his support for border security.
Pilip countered by accusing Suozzi of voting to open the borders and creating the migrant crisis. She argued that as a county executive, Suozzi had the authority to make decisions regardless of what the police commissioner advised. The debate on immigration and border security was intense and highlighted the stark differences between the two candidates.
Following the debate, both campaigns reacted strongly to their opponent’s performance. Pilip’s spokesperson praised her for exposing Suozzi as “Joe Biden’s accomplice in creating the migrant crisis” and holding him accountable for lying about her positions, particularly on abortion. On the other hand, Suozzi’s campaign criticized Pilip’s performance as “erratic” and “unsettling,” claiming that she appeared uninformed and relied on scripted talking points.
Recent polls show a tight race between Pilip and Suozzi. A Siena College poll found that 44% of likely voters support Pilip, while 48% back Suozzi. Another Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey showed 50% of likely voters supporting Suozzi and 47% supporting Pilip. With such close numbers, it is clear that every vote will count in this special election.
As the February 13th election approaches, the race for George Santos’ House seat continues to intensify. Both Mazi Pilip and Tom Suozzi are fighting hard to secure victory and represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District. The outcome of this race will not only determine who fills Santos’ seat but also reflect the broader political landscape in the district and beyond.
