House Speaker downplays Suozzi's victory in special election as win thins GOP's majority
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Democrat Tom Suozzi has defeated Mazi Pilip in the special election for New York's 3rd District, ABC News projects, based on analysis of the vote.
Suozzi's win flips the House seat, formerly held by George Santos, from red to blue. As a result, Republicans' already narrow House majority has been reduced to 219-213.
As Suozzi celebrated his win, he addressed his supporters and lawmakers who may be watching from the other side of the aisle.
"Let's send the message to our friends, running the Congress these days, stop running around for Trump and start running the country," he said.
Pilip delivered a concession speech in East Meadow, New York, on Tuesday night:
"I did call my opponent. I congratulated him," she said.
Suozzi will hold onto this seat for the next 11 months, which would have been Santos' remaining time in office. He will have to run again in the November election to secure the seat for the complete term.
The result makes House Republicans' razor-thin majority even thinner, shrinking the GOP's majority to just two votes.
On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed Suozzi's win.
"Their candidate ran like a Republican, he sounded like a Republican talking about the border and immigration because everyone knows that is the top issue. That is in no way a bellwhether of what's going to happen this fall," Johnson said.
Former President Donald Trump posting his reaction to social media writing, "Just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melissa Pilip, running in a race where she didn't endorse me and tried to "straddle the fense," when she would have easily won."
Back in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul congratulated Suozzi.
"This is a major victory, it wasn't even close and the voters of that district said we are not putting up with this," Hochul said.
ALSO READ | Suozzi, Pilip clash in fiery New York special election debate
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