The Nassau County GOP has tapped Mike LiPetri to challenge Democrat congressman Tom Suozzi in Congressional District 3 (CD-3), but the former New York state assemblyman must first prevail over other Republicans who are collecting petitions to be placed on the primary ballot.
The primary filing deadline for ballot access is April 4 and primary election day is June 25. The general election is in November.
“Serving in Congress is a privilege, and the people deserve true, authentic, and honest leadership,” Mr. LiPetri told The Epoch Times. “I respect the voters too much to not give this campaign everything I have.”
Mr. Suozzi flipped the seat, formerly held by the disgraced former congressman George Santos (R-NY), back to blue after he defeated Republican Mazi Pilip on Feb. 13 in a special election ordered by New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The special election, required after Congress expelled Mr. Santos last year, was held to fill the seat through November. Nassau County GOP Chair Joe Cairo is credited for the party’s winning streak that was suddenly halted by Mr. Suozzi’s election last month.
Nassau County Republicans still hold the county executive seat, the county clerk’s seat, and the district attorney’s seat.
“I’m grateful to have the support of the Republican Party and completely overwhelmed with the outpouring of support I have received from the community and industry leaders,” Mr. LiPetri said. “This race is for the people. A new vision for Long Island and a new vision for America.”
Other Republicans who have announced their candidacy for June’s primary include Greg Hach and Jim Toes.
Despite not receiving a nod from the Nassau County GOP, both are continuing their campaigns.
“I’m excited to compete in the June primary,” Mr. Toes told The Epoch Times. “District-03 Republicans deserve to pick their candidate to compete in November’s election.”
Mr. Toes has been a resident of Manhasset for 31 years, is a lifelong Republican, and is the current president of the Security Traders Association, a nonprofit grassroots organization representing employees in the financial services industry.
An Air Force veteran and attorney, Mr. Hach is investing $1 million of his own money toward the race.
“It’s completely bizarre that anybody would choose to back George Santos’ anti-Trump former business partner for the seat,” Hr. Hach told The Epoch Times. “He was passed over for that very reason in the first round of interviews when he tried to run against Suozzi in the special election from what I understand.”
Mr. Cairo did not respond to requests for comment.
“There was an introduction made and that’s it,” Mr. LiPetri said. “There was no financial deal. It’s a non-issue.”
A Republican nominee’s position on President Trump is very important across the entire party, according to Vince Casale, a New York political consultant.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that only Congress has the authority to remove President Trump from November’s general election ballot, not individual states.
“You cannot run a race where Trump Republicans or MAGA Republicans sit on their hands,” Mr. Casales told The Epoch Times. “If you do that, you’re not only going to lose the primary, but you won’t have enough votes to win the general election either.”
Mr. LiPetri, who represented District 9 in the New York State Assembly from January 1, 2019, to January 1, 2021, denies being anti-Trump.
He currently works as a managing director at Park Strategies with former U.S. Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-NY).
“These past four years have been a complete mess and Left America is in a very dangerous position both at home and abroad,” Mr. LiPetri said. “I support President Trump and look forward to delivering common sense solutions for Long Island and America.”
All three candidates will be challenged with gaining favor in a district that became more Democrat than Republican since the Democrat-dominated New York State Assembly adopted a new congressional district map. The redistricting removed the Republican-leaning South Shore communities from CD-3 and added portions of Suffolk County, such as Huntington Station, which consists of more Democrat constituents.
South Shore communities include Massapequa, Massapequa Park, and Massapequa East.
Mr. LiPetri vowed to win over the Democrat additions to the district.
“I am a fighter, I hit the ground running and meet the people where they are to earn their vote,” he said. “I’m not riding on name recognition or entitlement. From Queens to Suffolk and all across Nassau County, I will deliver our message of common-sense solutions and give the people someone to vote for, not just to vote against.”
Mr. LiPetri previously campaigned in Congressional District 2 four years ago against Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) who won the race with 17,462 votes or 63.3 percent.
Mr. LiPetri blamed the congressional loss on COVID-19 and the fact that he was still serving as a state legislator at the time.
“My primary focus then was fighting for small businesses against arbitrary lockdowns, standing up for our kids who belonged in the classroom, and taking care of our first responders,” he said. “It’s a completely different race.”
A total of 1,250 ballot petition signatures are needed for each of the three candidates to be placed on the June primary ballot.
Mr. Hach, an ardent Trump supporter, is aiming for 5,000.
“Voters can expect a hard-fought Republican primary over the coming months,” Mr. Hach added.
GOP Senate candidates Josh Eisen and Cara Castronuova are collecting ballot petition signatures to challenge retired New York Police Department detective Mike Sapraicone. Sapraicone has been nominated by over 100 New York state Republicans to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in November’s general election.
One of the requirements to be listed on the June primary ballot for Senate candidates is to gather 15,000 signed petitions.
“I have a lot of support from people around the state who are unhappy with the party’s process and they want a primary,” Ms. Castronuova told The Epoch Times.
