In a key race update, Democrat Tom Suozzi continues to maintain his lead with 61.1% of the vote, based on 14% of the estimated vote count. Suozzi currently has 15,552 votes, which puts him roughly 5,600 votes ahead of his Republican opponent, Mazi Pillup, who holds 38.9% of the vote. However, it is important to note that the race is still in its early stages, with many votes yet to be counted.
The Trump factor in this special election is an interesting aspect to consider. President Donald Trump has chosen to stay away from this particular race, and Ms. Pillup herself only revealed her vote for him a few days ago, albeit reluctantly. The avoidance of the Trump campaign in this race is likely due to the negative association with endorsements made during the 2022 midterms, which yielded lackluster results for the Republican party. As Donald Trump moves closer to securing the nomination, his team is being more cautious in selecting races to endorse.
According to a senior advisor, the Trump campaign is intentionally refraining from endorsing candidates in races where the outcome is not guaranteed. In the case of Mazi Pillup, endorsing her and subsequently losing the race could potentially lead to blame being placed on Donald Trump. As a result, the campaign has opted to stay out of this particular contest.
It is worth mentioning that even though Donald Trump has refrained from involvement in this district, he has not gone unnoticed by its residents. At Trump's recent victory celebration in New Hampshire, George Santos, a disgraced former congressman, was spotted dancing in the crowd and celebrating his own win in the New Hampshire primary.
As the special election progresses, it remains to be seen how the Trump factor will shape the race. Candidates are vying for voters' support, and with many votes still to be counted, the outcome is far from certain. Both Suozzi and Pillup will be closely monitoring the remaining results and adjusting their strategies accordingly. The absence of a Trump endorsement in this race highlights the careful approach being taken by the Trump campaign as they navigate the political landscape leading up to the upcoming nomination.
