U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) won re-election to his third term after Republican challenger George Santos conceded the race on Tuesday.
Santos was leading Suozzi in the unofficial early returns after the polls closed on Election Day, but the incumbent came out on top once election officials began counting the unusually high number of absentee ballots mailed in due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“George Santos called me this morning to concede and congratulate me on my victory,” Suozzi said. “I thanked him for his call. It is a great honor to serve as a member of Congress and I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of the people I represent.”
Santos did not respond to requests for comment. Suozzi said he looks forward to continuing his work in Congress. His Third Congressional District stretches the North Shore of Long Island from western Suffolk County to eastern Queens.
“Our nation faces tremendous challenges and the division is distracting us from accomplishing our goals,” Suozzi continued. “I will work to try and bridge the divide and address the COVID pandemic, our unstable economy, the climate crisis and the need to rebuild our middle class. I will never stop fighting for Long Island and Queens and the people of our state and country.”
In two other closely watched congressional races on Long Island, New York State Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville) declared himself the winner over Democrat Jackie Gordon on election night in his bid to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford). And U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) declared victory in his bid for a fourth term representing the East End of Long Island against Democratic challenger and Stony Brook University professor Nancy Goroff.
Neither Goroff nor Gordon have conceded their races.
Related Story: Garbarino Declares Win Over Gordon
Related Story: Zeldin Declares Victory Over Goroff
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