U.S. Rep Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) has declared victory in the 3rd Congressional District’s Democratic primary, while Port Washington’s Melanie D’Arrigo, the other remaining competitor for the seat, has not yet conceded the race.
The district includes Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck and Floral Park, among other areas, and stretches from Whitestone, Queens to Kings Park in Suffolk County.
Michael Weinstock of Great Neck had been in the running for the seat as well, but conceded to and endorsed Suozzi the day after the June 23 primary.
“I am overwhelmed by the support I received in this record-high turnout primary,” Suozzi said in a statement. “With coronavirus, it was challenging to vote, but people came out in droves. I am honored that nearly 70 percent of Democrats said they want me to keep fighting for them. There is so much work to do.”
The Suozzi campaign claims that the incumbent congressman had received 67 percent of the 54,000 votes cast across Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties. D’Arrigo received 25.7 percent and Weinstock 7.5 percent, they added.
In June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the deadline to submit absentee ballots for the congressional primary races until the day of the election on June 23. To be counted, the absentee ballots for the primary had to be postmarked by June 23, state officials said.
While outlets like Politico have named Suozzi the victor in the race, New York State’s Board of Elections has yet to post final vote tallies due to issues in counting absentee votes, though the percentages have remained similar in the past three weeks.
The board has not yet offered an explanation on why the results have been delayed, and efforts to reach the board for comment were unavailing.
If recognized as the winner by the state, Suozzi will face off against Republican nominee George Santos of Queens, who was unopposed in his primary, in November.
D’Arrigo has not yet commented on the results on social media, and efforts to reach her campaign, while acknowledged, were unavailing. Efforts to reach the Santos campaign for comment were also unavailing.
