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Republican Mazi Pilip and her Democrat rival Tom Suozzi are locked in a statistical dead heat in the upcoming special House election race to replace expelled Long Island congressman George Santos — with voters saying Pilip would be better equipped to tackle the spiraling migrant crisis, according to two new surveys released Thursday.

One poll, conducted by Siena College for Newsday, found that 44% of likely voters support Pilip, a two-time immigrant and ex-Israeli paratrooper, while 48% of voters back ex-Long Island Rep. Suozzi.

But the survey of 694 likely voters in House District 3 — which covers parts of Nassau County and northern Queens — has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, indicating the Feb. 13 race is neck-and-neck.

A separate Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill released Thursday showed 50% of likely voters support Suozzi, while 47% back Pilip. 

The survey of 742 likely voters has a margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, also signaling a statistical dead heat.

Suozzi’s lead extends by a razor-thin 4 points — 52% to 48% — when the Emerson pollsters pressed the remaining undecided voters to choose.

Meanwhile, the Nassau County Republican Party released its own internal survey showing Pilip leading Suozzi by 5 points — 50% to 45% — among 400 likely voters. 

With a 4.9 percentage point margin of error, the McLaughlin & Associates survey also showed a very tight trace.   

“Which candidate comes out on top next week will depend on turnout,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said.


  A new poll found that former Rep. Tom Suozzi has a two point lead over Republican rival Mazi Pilip in the special election House race to replace George Santos. Dennis A. Clark A new poll found that former Rep. Tom Suozzi has a two point lead over Republican rival Mazi Pilip in the special election House race to replace George Santos. Dennis A. Clark

Suozzi, 61, is seen by voters as likely to “do a better job on protecting democracy, addressing the issue of abortion, determining aid to Ukraine and making Congress work more effectively,” according to Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy.

Plip, 47, on the other hand, is viewed as better on “addressing the influx of migrants and by a slim margin on establishing American policy towards the Israel-Hamas war,” he added.

More than half (55%) of survey respondents believe Pilip will do a better job at passing legislation to keep New Yorkers safer, compared to 46% of those who believe Suozzi will do a better job, the Siena-Newsday poll found.

Meanwhile, almost half (49%) believe Pilip will better handle the crush of migrants pouring into New York, compared to 40% who think Suozzi is better suited to tackle the crisis. More than 170,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the Big Apple since spring 2022, according to city figures.

More voters in the Emerson poll also believe Pilip would be more effective at tackling the migrant crisis over her Democrat rival, at 53% to 47%.


  The poll found that voters believe Pilip is better equipped to take on issues like the migrant crisis and crime. Gabriella Bass The poll found that voters believe Pilip is better equipped to take on issues like the migrant crisis and crime. Gabriella Bass

On Wednesday, the National Border Patrol Council — the union representing 18,000 Border Patrol agents — endorsed Pilip.

The Siena-Newsday survey also provides fresh evidence of why Suozzi has distanced himself from fellow Democrats — particularly President Biden.

Former President Donald Trump leads Biden 47% to 42% among likely special election voters in House District 3.

Just 39% of voters in the district had a favorable view of Biden, while 57% had an unfavorable view of the president.

When it comes to voting along party lines, both Suozzi and Pilip captured a lion’s share of the voters from their respective political parties.

Self-described independent voters — those not registered with a party — were evenly split between the candidates — 43% for Suozzi and 41% for Pilip.

Suozzi led among female voters, capturing 51% of women voters to Pilip’s 40%, while Pilp led narrowly among men at 47% compared to Suozzi’s 44%.

Republicans insiders, however, said their own internal polling has Pilip narrowly ahead — and leading handily among independent voters.

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 Post 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 Post

GOP sources said the Siena poll had a much larger sample of moderate voters and fewer conservatives than their own polling suggests will vote.

According to the Sienna poll, voters believe Pilip will do a better job lowering the tax burden than her Democrat rival — 47% to 34%.

The Israel-Hamas war is also a major concern for voters in a district that has a considerable number of Jewish constituents.


  Pilip speaking at a campaign stop near the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center migrant shelter on Feb. 7, 2024. Gabriella Bass Pilip speaking at a campaign stop near the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center migrant shelter on Feb. 7, 2024. Gabriella Bass

Suozzi was favored by 55% of Jewish voters to 42% for Pilip, an orthodox Jewish Ethiopian native who served in the Israeli military before emigrating to the United States.

When it comes to where voters in the district live, Nassau County accounts for about three-quarters of the vote.

The race in Nassau was a draw — 46% of voters support Suozzi, a former Nassau County executive and three-term congressman, while 45% back Pilip, who represents Great Neck in the county legislature, the poll found.

The survey of the 694 likely voters in House District 3 has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points — indicating the race is a statistical dead heat and up for grabs.

The poll was nearly identical to a Pix 11/Emerson College poll released last month, which showed Suozzi leading Pilip by 3 points.

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