Tom Suozzi offi cially launches bid for governor
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
Democratic Congressman
Tom Suozzi (D-Queens/
Long Island) announced
Monday at a virtual press
conference that he is offi -
cially running for governor
in 2022, and he believes that
every job he has had leads
up to championing the executive
branch of New York
State.
The former mayor of Glen
Cove and Nassau County executive
now describes himself
as a “common sense
Democrat” representing
parts of Queens and Long Island
in Congress.
“I’m the only one with
a proven executive experience.
I’ve got a record of doing
this stuff and getting
stuff done. And again, I’m
a common sense Democrat.
I don’t pander,” Suozzi said
via Zoom.
“I think that people are
concerned about COVID in
the economy, they’re concerned
about property taxes,
they’re concerned about
income taxes, they’re concerned
about crime,” he
said, and will be campaigning
to prove that he can address
these problems.
He has been compared to
current Governor Kathy Hochul
and former Governor
Andrew Cuomo, but said he
wants to run in the “Suozzi
lane” rather than just continue
their work.
One thing he defi nitely is
not: a progressive.
He’ll be in stark opposition
to liberal leader and
Public Advocate Jumaane
Williams, who confi rmed
his run earlier in November.
It’s more crowded close
to the center of the Democratic
ticket, with Governor
Kathy Hochul and Attorney
General Letitia James also
announcing runs. “It’s not
about being politically correct.
It’s about doing the correct
thing to actually help
people,” he said; Comments
that bolster his previous resistance
to moving the party
to the left.
Suozzi has a proven track
record of reaching across
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
the aisle despite his own politics.
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He currently serves as
vice-chair of the Congressional
Problem Solvers Caucus,
a bipartisan effort in Washington
that works across
party lines to complete initiatives
they agree on.
“I’ll work with anybody.
I’ll work with Democrats,
I’ll work with Republicans,
I’ll work with progressives,
I’ll work with moderates. I’ll
work with anybody to actually
solve problems and get
things done on behalf of the
people that I serve. I’ve got
a proven record throughout
my career of always doing
that,” he said.
In his campaign video,
Suozzi features Wayne J.
Hall, former mayor of Hempstead
and Louise Skolnik,
former Nassau County Director
of Social Services, as
two of his main supporters.
“He’s really interested in
other people,” Skolnik said.
But as governor, he’ll be
inheriting a host of problems,
including yet another
variant of COVID-19. Governor
Hochul announced
another state of emergency
on Sunday in light of the
Omicron variant, though it
hasn’t been detected in New
York State yet.
“We have to address the
issue of COVID constantly
every single day working
with the scientists and the
Health Department offi cials.
It’s got to be always top of
mind or it’s going to get away
from us the way it is right
now.” Suozzi said of Hochul’s
announcement. He also advocated
for the COVID-19
vaccine booster shots during
the call.
This announcement to
run for governor comes just
after he declined Mayorelect
Eric Adams’ invitation
to join him as deputy mayor
of New York City. Suozzi said
Adams knew he was considering
a run for governor.
“I just believe that I can
best help the mayor of New
York City and other local
elected offi cials throughout
the state succeed by being
the governor, because I understand
I understand what
mayors go through,” he said,
adding that he has a great relationship
with Adams.
Though his gubernatorial
campaign will likely end his
bid to retain his Congressional
seat in a purple district,
Suozzi did not completely
rule out becoming a candidate
for Congress again.
He said he currently has
about $3 million in his congressional
account that he
will likely be using it the
race for governor.
Democratic Congressman Tom
Suozzi. Screenshot/Tom Suozzi YouTube