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Partly Cloudy District prepares for high-stakes special election
The expulsion of GOP Representative George Santos from Congress has set the stage for a highly competitive special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
This territory, previously won comfortably by Democrats in 2020, is now a battleground where Republicans have recently made significant gains.
Santos’ removal from office occurred less than a month after the House Ethics Committee released a damning report citing “substantial evidence” of his violation of federal law and involvement in a “complex web” of illegal financial activities. Now, the special election process will leave the position unfilled for 70 days, as Governor Kathy Hochul lacks the authority to appoint a replacement to a Congressional seat. A
primary will not be held, instead, Democrats have chosen a recognizable figure in the form of former Rep. Tom Suozzi, who had represented the district for three terms before stepping away to pursue a failed bid for governor in 2022. Meanwhile, Republicans announced Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Israeli Defense Forces veteran and current county legislator, as their candidate.
From 2007 to 2023, 11 special elections were held in Nassau County when 31 percent of voters cast their ballots in the 9th District on the same day as the presidential primary.
“It’s never been easier to request an absentee ballot through the New York State or Nassau County board of elections,” Scheuerman said. “It only takes about 10 seconds to request an absentee ballot.”
While special elections typically see lower turnouts, Scheuerman anticipates that the current race’s national implications may lead to a turnout exceeding the usual figures. He also notes that presidential elections see nearly 70 percent voter turnout.
“It’s clear that voters prefer to vote during even years and pay more attention in even years,” Scheuerman said.
“Normally, national elections don’t get above 27 percent from what we’ve seen, but this could go north of 30 percent based on the amount of interest in this race.”
Between 2011 and 2020, an average of 75 special elections took place each year across the United States. New York held 48 special elections during 2010 to 2021, the third-most of any state. The largest number of special elections in the state took place in 2018 when 11 special elections were held.
Hochul signed 10 laws earlier this year that she says expands and strengthens the basic right to vote, which includes early voting without a reason, and requires local boards of election to open a polling place on a campus at which more than 300 voters are registered at their college address. The laws build on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which modernizes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, strengthening legal protections against discriminatory voting policies and practices.
Regina Goutevenier, president of the League of Women Voters Port Washington-Manhasett expressed the organization’s commitment to disseminating information about the election to communities that may not have participated in large numbers in the past. She hopes that the election results will reflect an increased voter turnout.
Judy Esterquest, a member of the Port Washington-Manhasett league, said they expect to host the candidate forum in late January, close to the start of early voting. There, voters will also be aware of key dates and eligibility requirements to participate in the election.
Esterquest noted that candidates who choose not to participate are usually challengers who aren’t as comfortable in public, or an incumbent who believes that giving airtime to a challenger will only help the Challenger and not the incumbent.
