The special election to replace ousted Congressman George Santos has become an expensive slugfest for both parties. Polling shows former Congressman Tom Suozzi, who left Congress for a failed gubernatorial run, only narrowly leading Republican Mazi Pilip, whose campaign for the wealthy, Long Island district has been known for her scant public appearances.
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Last week, leaders in both parties seemed to lose control of their rank-and-file in embarrassing ways. House Speaker Mike Johnson even complained about being outmaneuvered on a potentially historic impeachment vote for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, unable to account for a House Democrat being wheeled into the chamber.
A win in this district would also underline that the GOP can maintain a competitive edge in the nation’s suburbs under the right circumstances. Republicans at the Nassau County level now control virtually every office, a striking reversal compared to when Suozzi was rising to Congress. The New York City-suburban district is the same territory that humbled Democrats at the local and national levels in 2022.
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This is bothersome: “House Speaker Mike Johnson even complained about being outmaneuvered on a potentially historic impeachment vote for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, unable to account for a House Democrat being wheeled into the chamber.”
So now (at least part of) the strategy is to hold a vote when there’s a possibility of an absence from one side or the other?
By the way, with today’s technology, every one of these lawmakers’ vote should be counted.