Two of the region’s most prominent labor unions have endorsed Rep. Tom Suozzi’s re-election bid, giving the Long Island Democrat a boost as a Trump-aligned super PAC spends nearly $8 million against him.
The Nassau County Police Benevolent Association and the New York City Uniformed Firefighters Association have both announced their support for Suozzi, who is seeking another term representing the Third House District, which covers parts of Nassau County, Queens and Suffolk County.
Suozzi is in a rematch against Republican Mike LiPetri, a former state assemblyman who lost to him by just 3 percentage points in 2024.
Nassau County PBA president Tom Shevlin said the union’s backing reflects Suozzi’s record over the past two years.
“We supported him two years ago and he has been working hard to work with both sides of the aisle. He backs the blue and states all the time on the Congress floor that he absolutely rejects the defunding the police movement,” Shevlin said.
Shevlin added that the union’s loyalty isn’t tied to party affiliation. “We support candidates who are willing to support us even if that means going against their own party,” he said.
The endorsement comes as Republicans work to brand Suozzi as weak on crime and aligned with the Democratic Party’s left flank. Suozzi pushed back on that framing in a statement to the New York Post.
“I am proud to once again have the endorsement of the Nassau County PBA. I have spent my career supporting law enforcement and making sure our officers have the resources they need to keep us safe,” Suozzi said. “As my opponent attacks and distorts my record, the men and women who protect us day and night know where I stand, and I am honored to have their trust and support.”
Uniformed Firefighters Association president Bobby Eustace also praised Suozzi, calling him a congressman who puts constituents ahead of party politics.
“In his over thirty years as a public servant, Tom Suozzi has continued to demonstrate that he sees beyond party lines and works across the aisle to do what’s best for his constituents,” Eustace said.
A Costly Air War
The endorsements land as national Republicans pour money into flipping the seat. The Trump-aligned No Going Back PAC has spent nearly $8 million backing LiPetri, including $5.7 million on television ads and roughly $2 million on mailers attacking Suozzi.
Suozzi, a former Nassau County executive, is serving his second stint in Congress. He left the seat in 2022 to run for governor, losing the Democratic primary to incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. He returned to Congress after winning a February 2024 special election to replace expelled Republican Rep. George Santos, then narrowly defeated LiPetri again that November.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, is expected to perform strongly at the top of the ticket against Hochul this cycle, a dynamic that could help LiPetri’s bid to unseat Suozzi.
