GOP Candidate Expresses Regret for Not Seeking Trump’s Endorsement in New York Special Election

Mazi Pilip (C) on the campaign trail outside the McKenna Elementary School at a press conference in Massapequa, N.Y., on Feb. 13, 2024. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

GOP candidate Mazi Pilip, who lost the New York special election this month, said she regretted not seeking former President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the race.

Ms. Pilip lost the race to Democrat Tom Suozzi to replace former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was expelled from Congress last year.

“Fake news that I do not support Trump. I love Trump. Great President. My mistake is not seeking his endorsement,” Ms. Pilip said in an X post on Feb. 29.

Ms. Pilip distanced herself from the former president during her campaign and did not reveal whether she voted for him in 2020 until the final weeks of the race.

Although Ms. Pilip did not seek endorsement from the 45th president, she told CNN that the GOP front runner “is a great president” and “didn’t commit any crime” in the Jan. 6 incident. She also said she would welcome and appreciate it if he would come to the district to support her campaign.

Ms. Pilip garnered 46.1 percent of the vote, while Mr. Suozzi secured 53.9 percent, giving Mr. Suozzi victory for the seat in the 3rd Congressional District. This result narrowed the Republican majority in the House to 219–213.

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The addition of Mr. Suozzi narrows the already small GOP majority, making every vote in Congress crucial. The ramifications of this tiny majority have been on display in the context of issues like government funding and foreign assistance.

The tighter majority could pose challenges for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who faces criticism from conservatives for supporting government funding measures.

‘Foolish’ Candidate

Following the loss, President Trump called Ms. Pilip “foolish” for not endorsing him during her campaign in a Truth Social post.

“Republicans just don’t learn, but maybe she was still a Democrat?” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I have an almost 99% Endorsement Success Rate in Primaries and a very good number in the General Elections, as well, but just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, running in a race where she didn’t endorse me, and tried to‘ straddle the fence,’ when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America.”

Ms. Pilip, previously a registered Democrat since 2012, officially switched her party affiliation to become a Republican this week. Despite her Democratic registration, she had been elected to her position as a Republican.

“MAGA, which is most of the Republican Party, stayed home, and it always will, unless it is treated with the respect that it deserves. I stayed out of the race, ‘I want to be loved!’” he wrote. “Give us a real candidate in the district for November. Suozzi, I know him well, can be easily beaten!”

Trump Endorsement Success Rate

According to Ballotpedia, President Trump has an impressive endorsement success rate. The rates differ between primaries and general elections, with a higher success rate for primaries, except in 2023, when the primary success rate is 67 percent compared to 80 percent for general elections. Analysts said Trump’s endorsements are a decisive factor in primary races.

In 2022, when mid-term elections were taking place, the former president endorsed over 250 candidates. The success rate for primaries was 93 percent and 83 percent for the general elections. The former president’s endorsement had the highest win rate for House races, with 93 percent, while the lowest success rate was for gubernatorial races, with 48 percent. For senate elections, the win rate was 68 percent. His overall endorsement win rate was 84 percent for the midterm elections in November 2022.

For 2020, the primary win rate was even more impressive, with a 97 percent win rate, while the general election success rate was 78 percent.

Caden Pearson contributed to this report.