NY-3 is rated Lean D. Suozzi won the February 2024 special by a comfortable margin in a district that historically leans Democratic at the top of the ticket. But Nassau County's volatility and the New York GOP's suburban strength keep this on the competitive list. Full House overview →
This seat's modern history is inseparable from George Santos (R), who won it in 2022 with a fabricated biography before being expelled by the House in December 2023 on fraud and ethics charges. Suozzi won the February 2024 special election, reclaiming a seat he had previously held until 2022 when he vacated it to run (unsuccessfully) for governor. The Santos episode remains politically relevant as a Republican accountability liability.
2024 Special Election Result in NY-3
February 2024 special election result. Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip by roughly 8 points in a high-turnout special. The margin was wider than many expected given the district's 2022 GOP performance, suggesting the Santos scandal drove significant Republican defection and that the immigration message that powered Santos's 2022 win had faded.
Key Facts — NY-3
Race Analysis
The District: Nassau County's Volatile Suburbs
New York's 3rd congressional district covers the northern tier of Nassau County on Long Island, stretching from the Gold Coast communities along Long Island Sound — Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset — eastward through Oyster Bay and into the more middle-class communities in the center of the county. The district's population is defined by New York City commuters, affluent homeowners, a large and politically engaged Jewish community, and the kind of upper-middle-class professionals who increasingly constitute the swing vote in competitive suburban districts nationwide. Nassau County as a whole has been politically volatile: it swung sharply toward Republicans in 2022 as immigration and public safety dominated the New York City-area political environment, but Suozzi's 2024 special win suggested that swing has partially reversed.
Tom Suozzi is one of the few members of Congress who have literally taken the same seat twice. He held NY-3 from 2017 to 2023, building a reputation as a moderate who was willing to break with national Democrats on issues like crime and immigration when it served his Nassau County constituency. He vacated the seat to run for governor in 2022, lost the Democratic primary to Kathy Hochul, and returned to private life. When Santos was expelled and a special was called, Suozzi was the obvious Democratic choice and won comfortably. His path to re-election in 2026 runs through the same formula: moderate positioning, strong constituent service, and a willingness to differentiate from national Democrats on the cost-of-living and public safety issues that drove the 2022 Nassau County swing toward Republicans.
Property taxes are the single most visceral political issue in NY-3. Nassau County has among the highest effective property tax rates in the United States — homeowners in the district commonly pay $15,000-$30,000+ annually — and debates over the SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap that Trump imposed in 2017 and extended have real financial consequences for these affluent households. Suozzi has been a leading voice on restoring the SALT deduction, which gives him a direct economic argument that resonates with the district's core voters regardless of their partisan default.
Key Issues
Property Taxes & SALT
Nassau County homeowners pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. The $10,000 SALT deduction cap costs many NY-3 households thousands of dollars annually. Suozzi has made SALT restoration a signature issue, giving him a concrete economic argument that cuts across partisan lines in the district.
Immigration
Immigration drove a major Republican swing in Nassau County in 2022 amid concerns about the New York City migrant crisis and its impact on local services and schools. Suozzi carved out a distinctive position in 2024, supporting stricter border enforcement while opposing mass deportation. Managing this tension remains central to his political strategy.
Cost of Living
Long Island is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. Energy costs, grocery inflation, and the general economic squeeze on middle-class families are acute in a district where high incomes coexist with extremely high living costs. Republicans frame cost-of-living as a Democratic failure; Suozzi counters with SALT and prescription drug pricing arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who represents NY-3 in Congress?
Tom Suozzi (D) represents New York's 3rd congressional district, covering the northern Nassau County communities on Long Island including Great Neck, Manhasset, Oyster Bay, and parts of northwestern Nassau. Suozzi won the seat in a February 2024 special election after Republican George Santos was expelled from Congress following a cascade of fraud and ethics violations.
What happened to George Santos in NY-3?
George Santos (R) won NY-3 in 2022 with a fabricated biography. After taking office, Santos was revealed to have invented virtually his entire background. He was indicted on 23 federal counts and the House voted 311-114 to expel him in December 2023, triggering the special election that Suozzi won in February 2024.
What are the key issues in NY-3 in 2026?
Property taxes are the dominant kitchen-table issue: Nassau County has among the highest property tax burdens in the United States. The SALT deduction cap directly costs many district homeowners thousands of dollars annually. Immigration, particularly the 2022-2023 New York City migrant crisis, also resonates. Cost of living on Long Island rounds out the major issues.
