February 14, 2024 8:10 a.m. ET
Lessons learned from New York's high-stakes special election
From CNN's Gregory Krieg
As Democrats celebrate and Republicans dust themselves off, here are some key takeaways.
Immigration is a big issue, but will it be a game-changer? Maji Pillip and her fellow Republicans blasted Democrat Tom Suozzi over New York City's immigration crisis, claiming he, along with Biden, created the crisis, a line that ultimately ended with Suozzi This was completely unacceptable to voters who had long identified themselves as moderates or centrists.
Although Mr. Suozzi and state Democratic leaders pushed back against Mr. Pilip's immigration message, Mr. Suozzi never felt outnumbered on an issue that usually wins for Republicans.
Redemption of top New York Democrat: Suozzi's victory is a major coup for the New York Democratic Party and its leadership, which has faced intense internal criticism over the candidate's underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm elections.
Mr. Suozzi's success signals a shift in tone for Mr. Biden and national Democrats, with concerns about the president's meager polling numbers and growing concerns about his age leading to a rematch with former President Donald Trump. This is a bit of good news, as there are growing fears that this is coming soon. Biden won the race in 2020, but Democrats on Long Island had been losing the race ever since, until Tuesday.
The Democratic Party (still) has an issue with Israel. Suozzi was interrupted by demonstrators accusing him of aiding and abetting Israel's “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. The interruption was a message to Democrats, especially Biden, as well as the former and future congressman from a predominantly Jewish district.
Don't take away too much: Democrats would be wise to remember that Mr. Suozzi is a unique candidate with deep ties throughout Nassau County, where the majority of voters reside. Pilip, on the other hand, was relatively unknown until he entered the race, and relatively unknown until he returned from the race.
