Long Island Democrat Tom Suozzi on Tuesday said he’d be willing to go to war against Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the lefty “Squad” if he succeeds in winning a hotly contested House seat.
Suozzi, during a remote press conference, noted he sparred with progressive Democrats during his prior stint in Congress, including over restoring the State and Local Tax [SALT] deduction — a huge issue for homeowners saddled with high property tax bills in the 3rd District covering Nassau County and eastern Queens.
“All members of the ‘Squad’ voted against it,” Suozzi said, referring to legislation to restore the full deduction that he pushed in 2019.
“I had a battle with the far lefties as well as the far righties and I will continue to do so for the policies that benefit my constituents,” he said.
Suozzi said he’s also slammed the “far-left for their attacks on Israel,” including “antisemitic comments.”
Suozzi is facing off against Republican Mazi Pilip in the Feb. 13 special election for the seat of expelled former-Rep. George Santos, with early voting beginning on Saturday.
Tom Suozzi said he’d be willing to go to war against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the lefty “Squad.” James KeivomHis comments distancing himself from AOC and the left flank of the Democratic Party came as Pilip and the GOP sought to link Suozzi to the firebrand lefty congresswoman as well as President Biden, who is unpopular in the district.
“I have always been willing to stand up to members of my own party when I think they’re wrong to fight for my constituents,” Suozzi said.
Pro-Pilip forces call the Democrat “Sanctuary Suozzi” for some of his controversial statements and prior positions, including once boasting that he booted federal immigration enforcement agents out of Nassau County when he was the county’s chief executive.
Suozzi is trying to distance himself from AOC and the Democrats’ left flank. Getty ImagesA recent poll conducted by Pix11/Emerson College shows a neck-and-neck race, with Suozzi notching 45% support and Pilip at 42%.
Proponents of SALT, including Suozzi, argue it provides relief to New York’s middle class saddled with high property and state and local income taxes.
Read more of The Post’s coverage on the special election to replace George Santos:
Republican Mazi Pilip is running against former Rep. Tom Suozzi in the special election to replace George Santos in New York’s Third Congressional District. Gabriella Bass; Kevin C. Downs for NY PostConservatives have long argued that the nation shouldn’t subsidize New York’s high state and local taxes with a federal tax break.
Former President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled House and Senate voted to cap the once unlimited deduction on state and local taxes to $10,000 starting in the 2018 tax year.
Suozzi campaigns at the Canton Manor restaurant in Little Neck to ask for votes from the Asian community. Gregory P. MangoProgressives including AOC, who voted against legislation to remove the cap in 2019, believe it’s an unnecessary tax break for the wealthy.
Pilip campaign spokesman Brian Devine responded, “It’s laughable to think that Tom Suozzi would stand up to The Squad on SALT. After all, he asked to join The Squad and was accepted by none other than AOC.
“Suozzi voted in lockstep with The Squad over 90% of the time while in Congress, and he failed to restore SALT during his time in Congress. Tom Suozzi’s campaign logo of ‘Let’s Fix It” is a joke since he is the one who `broke it.’ Mazi Pilip will work with the majority in Congress to restore SALT,” added the Pilip rep.
AOC’s camp declined to comment.
