On February 13, New York’s 3rd Congressional District will have special elections. Voters from northern Long Island and Queens neighborhoods such as Whitestone, Little Neck, Glen Oaks, Floral Park and Queens Village will have to decide who, between Republican Mazi Pilip and Democrat Tom Suozzi, will occupy the legislative seat in Washington, which was empty after the dismissal of conservative representative George Santos last December on fraud charges.
Although the eyes of the leaders of the country’s main political parties are focused on that contest, where Democrats and Republicans will begin to measure forces in a tight battle, in which a top favorite is not yet in sight, the lack of knowledge about the electoral event of a good part of the voters in the area, the tug-of-war over new migrants and an intense political struggle in 2024, are, as a bird’s eye view, the elements that mark the panorama prior to the February elections. And they will end up being decisive in the results.
And despite the fact that in that district, considered the richest in all of New York, there live some 771,208 inhabitants, 69.5% white, 14.6% Asian, 10.6% Hispanic and 3.1% black, judging by the Latino residents of 150th Street of Whitestone, it is presumed that electoral fervor is conspicuous by its absence. In 2022, some 271,331 voters participated in the regular elections for the Congressional seat, but there are those who already anticipate that abstentionism will be the protagonist in these special elections.
This is according to Reynaldo Rivera, who has lived in District 3 for more than 30 years, and who affirms that in neighborhoods like his, the candidates have not made an effort to win over voters, because in his opinion, both opponents are confident in that the white votes of Long Island will be what will put them in Washington.
“I am very active in elections, and I recently found out that in February you have to go vote, but most people around here have no idea. Many fail to understand the importance of these elections for our neighborhoods and we have not seen either Pilip or Suozzi here putting up at least one poster,” said the Colombian, who has a business in Whitestone. “Whoever wins is going to win with very few votes, and as an immigrant who is upset that this government is supporting newly arrived people and giving them everything, I think that this is going to be expensive for the Democrats and it is going to open the way for the Republicans and Trump.”
Mexican María Brenda Leal, who works at the Taco Azul restaurant, confessed that she did not know that in February there would be elections to elect the representative of her district, and warned that the candidates fighting for the federal seat seem not to be interested in the Latino vote. and immigrant, or in lower-income neighborhoods. Among Hispanics and Asians there are more than 25% of the electorate.
The Whitestone neighborhood, with a Latino presence, is part of Congressional District 3. Edwin Martinez
“In times like these what you would expect is for them to go out and talk to people. We need more participation from them towards this district, not only on Long Island, but in these neighborhoods that are part of the district so that they see what people really need and that they see it with their own eyes,” said the young woman, originally from Veracruz. . “I have never seen the candidates here; It’s like they don’t care about us. I hope that whoever wins, helps those of us who have fewer resources, above all with the lack of public transportation, which for us is fundamental, and that they support people with better jobs and that they can open their own stores. The problem is that when they get to Washington they forget everything.”
The immigrant, who has been in New York for 10 years, also put the issue of new arrivals on the table, and not only said she felt that the Biden Administration’s handling of the wave of new migrants could define which side the moves the electoral balance, but demanded that those who have been in the American Union for years be put on the list of political priorities.
“This Government made the big mistake of putting new immigrants first and then veteran immigrants and it is obvious that New York is collapsing. That is why it would be good for whoever represents the district to be able to promote immigration reform that puts everyone to work equally, because that is why we came here, to work and not to be supported,” added the Mexican.
Julia Carvajal, who has been living in Congressional District number 3 for 15 years, and who declares herself a Democratic voter and admirer of candidate Tom Suozzi, who already held the legislative seat before launching his failed race for the Governor of New York, confessed that When it comes to thinking about his vote, this time his decision is not clear.
Mexican María Brenda Leal did not know that in February there will be special elections in District 3. Edwin Martínez.
“I have a Democratic heart and I am team Suozzi, but the truth is that it makes me very angry to see how the Democrats from Washington have not only done nothing for migrant communities in New York but are also giving us such a big problem with the newcomers, “That maybe this time it will give the Republicans the opportunity,” said the mother of the family.
Douglas Martínez, who assures that unlike other parts of New York, his district shines for security, order and economic stability, regretted that Latinos do not unite more to vote and push legislative agendas where they can even demand that representatives that they fight more fiercely for their needs.
“In this district we are obviously not the majority, but if all Latinos who can vote do so, we can be above other groups that do not go out to vote, and instead of playing along with the Republicans who now cross out the “We are new to being the problem, we should pull together and recognize the value that we have as a community,” said the small businessman.
And regarding the future of the February contest, and the importance of the jousts within the party struggle, political analyst Lucía Gómez warns that it will be vital, since in one way or another it will measure the pulse of the 2024 electoral battle. .
“There is no doubt that these elections on February 13 are going to begin to mark the pace of what will be the electoral year. Let’s see if the strong message of the Republicans or the one that communities are interested in much more than the extremist policies of figures like Trump and the Governor of Texas resonate more,” said the expert, emphasizing that despite the fact that in District 3 the The Latino vote only represents about 12%, those votes can tip the balance.
“Voters have to understand that when leaders like those in Texas and Florida sell themselves as our friends, in reality they are not. No one is our friend, so repeat it. They have never determined any adequate path for our community towards true opportunities, and we must support those who show that they want to move forward,” Gómez said, urging that a battle strategy of the Republicans will be to want to show the newcomers as enemies. “We must go out and vote, but focus on putting in Washington someone who is capable of passing strong and adequate immigration packages so that our communities have strong weight and not fall into the trap of dividing us and turning us against each other.”
Congressional District 3 in data
- February 13 will be the day of the special elections
- Mazi Pilip, the Republican candidate, is a legislator from Nassau. Born in Ethiopia, she immigrated to Israel when she was 12, where she was part of the Army before immigrating to the United States.
- Tom Suozzi, the Democratic candidate, was a congressman, county executive, and candidate for Governor of New York
- An estimated 771,208 inhabitants reside in that district.
- 69.5% are white
- 14.6% Asian
- 10.6% Hispanic
- 3.1% black
- 1.5% are of two or more races
- 271,331 voters voted in 2022 for the federal seat won by the dismissed George Santos