Anna Kaplan doesn’t like George Santos. And she isn’t so sure about Tom Suozzi either. "After almost a year of this district having embarrassing representation, Tom Suozzi thinks voters on Long Island have forgotten that he abandoned us to George Santos,†Kaplan, who is running in the 3rd Congressional District as a Democrat, said in a statement. “The Democratic Party is a pro-choice party, and unlike Tom Suozzi, I will always stand up for a woman's right to choose — period.†That was just a preview of just some of the attacks that fellow Democrats will make against Suozzi after the longstanding, though divisive figure in New York politics launched his own campaign Tuesday to win back his old seat. Suozzi “abandoned†the Long Island district last year, forgoing re-election to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary from the right. Team Hochul viewed Suozzi as a nuisance, at best. And she slammed him for initially supporting the Hyde amendment, which bans federal funds like Medicaid from being spent on abortion care. Suozzi’s team points to his 100 percent rating in all three terms from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. But Suozzi only signed onto the bill to repeal Hyde after a 2019 pressure campaign by constituents. And abortion rights groups said Suozzi was pandering to the right wing with his 2006 plan as Nassau County executive to reduce abortions. Suozzi has been working at the lobbying firm Actum while keeping an eye on the congressional seat, and he’s getting criticized for that, too. “Voters on Long Island know better than to give him a second chance when he comes crawling back after cashing in as a lobbyist,†another opposing Democratic candidate, Zak Malamed, said in a statement. So Suozzi has enemies. But he’s got an essential friend: Nassau Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs. In his other role as state Democratic chair, Jacobs backed Hochul and condemned Suozzi’s run as he and other party leaders urged him to run again for Congress. But many insiders expect Jacobs would pick his longtime ally for the Democratic line, if Santos’ seat was empty and a special election was called. “I haven’t made that decision,†Jacobs told Playbook. “I’m going to be doing it in consultation with (Minority Leader) Hakeem Jeffries and (Queens Democratic Chair) Greg Meeks and the DCCC as well as, of course, Governor Hochul.†Has Hochul forgiven him? “I can’t speak for the governor,†Jacobs said. And her campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment. As for Suozzi, “We are friends, and I like him,†Jacobs said. “But that doesn't mean I’m not going to do my job. And my job is to pick the Democrat who has the best chance of winning in the election.†Nine Democrats have filed for the race and more, like last year’s candidate Robert Zimmerman, are interested. “Everybody is talking to me,†Jacobs said. “Sometimes you want to hide.†Suozzi declined to comment, and his team said he’d be talking more after the November elections. In the meantime, the GOP is trying to hold onto Santos’ seat, too. Nassau County GOP Chair Joe Cairo told Playbook he’s heard from 20 prospective candidates and will be ready for a special election if it comes to that: “We will select the best candidate, and we will give 110 percent effort.†—Jeff Coltin IT’S THURSDAY. One more day until Friday. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE’S KATHY? Making a mental health announcement in Manhattan. WHERE’S ERIC? Talking public safety with Jewish education leaders, making a public space-related announcement and touring a newly completed public space in Manhattan, hosting “Talk with Eric: A Community Conversation†and speaking at a National Latino Officers Association gala. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “They can try to expel me, but I pity the fools that go ahead and do that and think that that’s the smartest idea.†— Rep. George “Mr. S.†Santos on fellow first-year New York Republicans’ resolution to expel him from Congress. (POLITICO)
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