A major Republican political committee is backing millennial Republican challenger Mike LiPetri to defeat veteran Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi in the tight race for the House of Representatives in New York.
The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, added LiPetri, 34, to its “Young Guns” program on Friday, signaling that the race will be a priority.
LiPetri, a former state assemblyman, is seeking to become the Republican nominee for New York's 3rd Congressional District in the upcoming primary scheduled for June 25.
If successful, the attorney will face Rep. Suozzi directly in New York's heavily guarded House District 3, the Empire State's wealthiest congressional district, which covers the northern shore of Nassau County and parts of the bordering neighborhoods in Queens.
“Mike LiPetri is a fantastic candidate who is working day and night to achieve a strong victory in New York's Third District,” said NRCC spokeswoman Savannah Viar.
“His commitment to securing the border, reducing inflation and reducing crime stands in stark contrast to the Democrats’ extremist message.”
Suozzi, a former Nassau County executive, served three terms in the House before resigning his seat to run unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, losing badly to Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary.
However, the 61-year-old Democrat rejoined the House of Representatives after regaining his seat in a special election earlier this year to replace ousted former Rep. George Santos. In a stunning upset, Santos had replaced Suozzi’s vacant seat in 2022.
The Republican Party says Suozzi is “ready for election” as voters consistently rank immigration and the economy as top issues that Democrats have failed to address.
The “Young Guns” program is the highest designation the NRCC awards to a candidate.
The program requires candidates to work toward specific goals and meet benchmarks throughout the election cycle to ensure their campaigns remain competitive, well-funded and well-known within their districts.
The designation makes it easier for candidates to raise money because Republican Party donors know it is a competitive, potentially winnable race, according to the NRCC.
Suozzi's camp, considered the front-runner in the race by independent analysts, appeared unfazed, even though the congressman only narrowly edged out Republican rival Mazi Pilip to replace Santos.
“Congressman Tom Suozzi will continue to stand with New York families and work across party lines to find common-sense solutions to secure our border, restore the SALT deduction, protect our air and water, and confront extremism,” said Suozzi senior campaign adviser Kim Devlin.
The NRCC previously listed retired NYPD Deputy Inspector Alison Esposito, a Republican running against Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan in the Hudson Valley’s 18th District, as one of its “young guns.”
LiPetri is one of 35 lawmakers on the NRCC’s “Young Guns” list.
A LiPetri campaign poll released in August showed former President Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by just 2 percentage points (47% to 45%) in the district.
Suozzi led the poll over his lesser-known rival with 51% to 37%.
