Candidates Suozzi, Pilip make final push for Santos seat in NY-3 special election
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Candidates in the special election in New York's 3rd Congressional District are making their final push to get the votes to fill the seat of expelled Congressman George Santos.
On Monday night, a standing room only crowd of Nassau County republicans rallied for their new standard bearer Mazi Pilip, who had harsh words for her opponent.
"Tom Suozzi, let me tell you this," she said. "You have been lying to us and you have been lying about me and I promise you tomorrow, February 13, you are going to remember this day because Mazi Pilip will knock you down."
Pilip is vying to replace disgraced and expelled former Congressman George Santos, who had picked up the seat vacated by three term Democrat Tom Suozzi.
Both candidates gave a final push Monday on why they should be elected ahead of Tuesday's election.
Suozzi, whose name recognition and reputation as a Capitol Hill moderate will help send him back to Washington, says Pilip is simply a carbon copy of Donald Trump.
"She's antichoice, she's pro-guns, she won't support the bipartisan immigration deal," said Suozzi. "By not supporting that deal, you're keeping the border open and bringing more migrants to New York. By not supporting that you're endangering Israel. You're empowering Putin. People are sick of that."
But in Nassau County, with its heavy presence of law enforcement families, the border crisis has become just about the biggest issue.
Former Congressman Peter King, a Republican who supports Pilip, says he believes it will help keep the seat red and protect Republicans' tenuous majority in the U.S. House.
"It's both real and it's also a metaphor," said King. "You have immigration and that's tied to crime and that's tied to Biden's failed leadership and he's the leader of the Democratic party. So, the polling I've seen. those three are really intertwined."
The NY-3 seat represents suburbs just east of New York City plus a small part of Queens.
All eyes are on the race nationwide because Republicans have a narrow lead in the House.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says polls will open on time despite the winter storm. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
ALSO READ | Suozzi, Pilip clash in fiery New York special election debate
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