The House Majority PAC, a Democratic-aligned group whose mission is to regain the House, on Wednesday launched a nearly $6 million ad campaign to flip the New York seat of expelled GOP Rep. George Santos.
The group is placing $5.2 million in initial TV and digital ads that will run in the run-up to the Feb. 13 special election for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, coupled with $700,000 in mail ads.
“House Majority PAC is making it clear that we will do whatever it takes to take back the House in 2024 — and NY-03 represents the opportunity to make that happen,” House Majority PAC President Mike Smith said in a statement.
Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi is running for the seat, which he held from 2017 to 2023 but gave up in order to run what was ultimately an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2022.
He’s taking on Republican nominee Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Nassau County legislator. Forecasters rate the race a toss-up.
Mr. Santos turned the seat red in 2022, but was ousted Dec. 1, bolstering Democrats’ hopes they can take back the competitive district that includes parts of Long Island and Queens to help them retake the chamber.
Mr. Santos became just the sixth member in history to be removed from Congress amid criminal charges he stole donors’ IDs and made fraudulent credit card charges.
Lawmakers from both parties reached the required two-thirds majority to oust him with a vote of 311-114, despite attempts by House Republican leaders to save him and prevent their slim majority from shrinking.
They’re ahead with 221 seats to Democrats’ 213.
— Alex Miller contributed to this report.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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