Democrats are injecting an additional $1.25 million into the impending special election for the replacement of George Santos, suggesting a degree of apprehension within the party regarding the contest in New York’s 3rd Congressional District scheduled for next week.
House Majority PAC, a key Democratic group focused on House races, is launching a last-minute television ad blitz featuring three new ads aimed at supporting Democratic former Rep.
Tom Suozzi against Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip. The urgency behind this ad campaign indicates a level of concern about the outcome of Tuesday’s election.
Democrats Inject Additional Funds (Credits: The New York Times)
Despite already holding a substantial financial advantage, with House Majority PAC alone having spent $7.2 million, Democrats are keen on securing a victory in the race.
The latest ads seek to defend Suozzi against Republican accusations of being weak on border security and criticize Pilip on abortion rights.
A third ad alleges ethical issues against Pilip and draws comparisons to the disgraced Santos, whose expulsion triggered the need for a special election. This new advertising push will run from Tuesday through election day.
The heightened activity is noteworthy given the existing financial dominance of Democrats in the race. However, both parties are eager for a win, with Democrats aiming to reverse recent losses on Long Island and Republicans treating the race as a referendum on their recent gains.
This marks the first special election under House Speaker Mike Johnson, testing the enduring impact of GOP messages on immigration and crime and potentially bolstering the Republicans’ slim majority in the House.
Before this additional spending, Democrats had already committed a combined $10.1 million on advertising, compared to Republicans’ nearly $6.6 million. Suozzi had also significantly outpaced Pilip in fundraising by more than a 3-to-1 margin from October 1 through January 24.
Despite the financial edge, Democrats seem uneasy, as evidenced by the new ads. One spot labels Pilip as an “ethical nightmare” who will “embarrass us again,” associating her image with the disgraced Santos and highlighting unpaid taxes to the IRS.
Another criticizes Pilip’s stance on abortion, claiming she aims to ban it without exceptions for rape or incest. The third ad in favor of Suozzi emphasizes his support for ICE and collaboration with former Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) to address illegal immigration.
The district, previously won by President Joe Biden by over 8 points, was captured by Santos in 2022 during a Republican wave, granting the GOP control of Long Island.
Republicans are emphasizing an immigration-focused message, utilizing footage of Suozzi boasting about removing ICE from Nassau County in their ads, capitalizing on the ongoing migrant crisis as a central issue in the campaign.
