Democratic former Rep. Tom Suozzi announced Tuesday he would join the crowded race for scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos’ Long Island-based House seat in 2024.
Suozzi repped the 3rd Congressional District from 2017 to 2023. He gave up the seat to run for governor, and was soundly beaten by incumbent Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary.
“The madness in Washington, DC, and the absurdity of George Santos remaining in the United States Congress is obvious to everyone,” Suozzi said in a statement.
“I’ve never sat on the sidelines. From the cost-of-living to immigration, crime, climate change, combating terrorism in the Middle East and globally, and simply helping people, we need more common sense and compassion and less chaos and senseless fighting.”
Suozzi, 61, intends to hold a formal campaign kickoff after the Nov. 7 off-year elections in the Empire State.
For weeks, he had been angling to jump into the race against Santos, who is facing a federal indictment after admitting to fabricating much of his official biography late last year.
Santos was charged in May with offenses including money laundering and lying to Congress in a financial disclosure.
Last week, Santos’ former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks pleaded guilty to a count of fraud conspiracy that implicated the congressman.
The Republican lawmaker has professed his innocence and already announced plans to defend his seat, despite a cacophony of calls for his resignation as well as a heated GOP primary that features nearly a dozen significant contenders.
In addition to Suozzi, other Democrats in the race include former New York City Council staffer Steve Behar, surgical center CEO Austin Cheng, former state Sen. Anna Kaplan, Nassau County legislator Josh Lafazan, nonprofit executive Zak Malamed, and St. John’s University School of Law professor Will Murphy.
“After almost a year of this district having embarrassing representation, Tom Suozzi thinks voters on Long Island have forgotten that he abandoned us to George Santos,” Kaplan said in a statement.
“The Democratic Party is a pro-choice party, and unlike Tom Suozzi, I will always stand up for a woman’s right to choose — period.”