Two Big Chances to Make a Change

Republican George Santos of the 3rd District was expelled from Congress on December 1 due to House ethics complaints, allegations of fraud, and many other infractions. Santos gets credit for bringing together a bipartisan consensus on his expulsion — only the sixth ever for a member of Congress. The sudden vacancy necessitates a February special election for the district, which encompasses the North Shore of Long Island and the far northeast of Queens, and is home to a substantial frum community.

The Democratic Party has cleared the field for former incumbent Tom Suozzi, who has relationships with members of our community from his first stint representing the district. The Republicans are putting up a very intriguing candidate: Nassau County legislator Mazi Pilip, an Orthodox Jewish mother of seven who served in the IDF. When she was 12, Pilip’s family left Ethiopia for Israel in Operation Solomon. She grew up to serve in the Tzanchanim (Paratrooopers Brigade), earn degrees from the universities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, and marry Adalbert Pilip, an American Jew who is now a cardiologist in Great Neck.

Aside from the interested members of our community, every elected official, political pundit, and those who follow campaigns — like those reading this column — will be watching this rare February election to see what it portends for the House majority. A Democratic win could foreshadow a blue wave come November. Additionally, one less seat for Speaker Mike Johnson to rely on in the here and now makes the Republican majority that much less effective.

A Republican victory will give them hope for the midterms and boost their fundraising. Republican Santos had defeated Democrat Suozzi in 2022, and the Cook Political Report ranks the current race as a tossup. It is a true swing district. But in terms of national importance, it pales in comparison to what’s cooking in another district only 30 miles away.