New York 3rd Congressional District Special Election: A Debate on Immigration and Abortion

The New York 3rd Congressional District special election, which is set to take place on February 13, 2024, has been the subject of intense debate and discussion in recent days. The two candidates, Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip, met face to face in the first and only debate on Long Island on February 8, 2024, to discuss a range of issues that are top of mind for voters in the district.

One of the most contentious topics of the debate was immigration. When asked about the migrant crisis in New York City and its impact on the district, Pilip emphasized the need to secure the border before addressing the issue within the United States. She stated, “Before we even address the issue inside, we have to make sure first and foremost we need to secure the border. After that, then we have to come up with a plan. We have to know who’s here. We don’t even know who all those people are.”

Suozzi, on the other hand, did not directly address Pilip’s remarks on immigration but instead spoke about a bipartisan deal that had been proposed in the United States Senate. He argued that this deal would build more wall, get more border agents, deal with asylum seekers, reform the laws, and provide funding to the state of New York and the city of New York to deal with the migrant crisis.

The bipartisan deal referenced by Suozzi appeared to be the supplemental spending agreement that included aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan as well as an ambitious border security and immigration package that failed to pass the Senate on February 8, 2024.

The topic of abortion was also raised during the debate. Pilip, who identified as pro-life and the mother of seven children, stated, “I’m not going to force my own beliefs to any woman, therefore I’m not going to support a national abortion ban.” She did not directly respond to Suozzi’s questions about whether she would vote to codify Roe v. Wade or whether she was pro-choice. Instead, she accused Suozzi of attempting to tell women what to think of their bodies and distorting her record on the issue.

Suozzi, in response, questioned Pilip about her stance on abortion and repeatedly asked her if she was pro-choice. Pilip did not directly address Suozzi’s questions and instead accused him of lying and distorting her record on the issue.

The Siena College poll conducted for Newsday from February 3 to February 6 showed Suozzi leading Pilip 48% to 44% among likely voters. Early voting in the district began on February 3.

The debate between Suozzi and Pilip provided insight into their positions on key issues and offered voters a better understanding of their respective records and beliefs. The special election is expected to be closely watched and could have significant implications for the political landscape in New York and beyond.

In conclusion, the New York 3rd Congressional District special election debate between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip highlighted the importance of securing the border and addressing the migrant crisis, as well as the contentious issue of abortion. The candidates’ differing views on these topics offer a clear contrast and provide valuable information for voters as they make their decisions in the upcoming election.