When Thomas R. Suozzi arrived back in the House chamber after winning the special election in February, he had two words for his fellow members of Congress.

“Wake up!”

In that spirited speech, Suozzi stressed the need for bipartisan solutions on issues like the border and inflation.

Eight months later, Suozzi smartly continues to focus on those messages as he runs to serve a full two-year term, challenged this time by Republican Michael J. LiPetri Jr., a former state assemblyman.

But Suozzi, 62, is in a very different place than he was before the February special election, when 3rd Congressional District voters resoundingly chose the Glen Cove Democrat seeking to return to Congress after the ouster of disgraced Rep. George Santos. The attention on that race, and the spotlight on Suozzi since, has helped grow his stature, influence and platform, allowing him to further evolve into a significant player in Congress, a position that benefits his district and beyond.

BORDER FOCUS

That’s particularly important when it comes to Suozzi’s focus on the border, which he labels as his top issue. A Homeland Security committee member, Suozzi is working with conservative Texas Republican Rep. Morgan Luttrell to build a coalition of “business, badges and the Bible” with business leaders, law enforcement officials and various religious groups. They hope to establish a new legislative framework, based on a mix of past legislation, that could address securing the border, fixing the asylum system, and modernizing the legal immigration system regardless of who wins the White House and control of Congress.

It’s that willingness to take the initiative and lead, combined with his ability to reach across the aisle, that makes Suozzi an important voice, particularly in a tightly divided Congress.

Among Suozzi’s other priorities: a full repeal of the $10,000 federal income tax cap on state and local tax deductions, known as SALT. The SALT cap, along with other provisions from former President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax law changes, is set to expire next year. Suozzi said he’ll form another coalition if necessary to make sure that happens.

Importantly, beyond those larger national issues, Suozzi is relentlessly focused on his district, which stretches from northeast Queens into the northwestern part of Huntington. He speaks in detail about everything from the Grumman cleanup and airplane noise to the Northport VA Medical Center and sewer and water infrastructure. His staff has ramped up constituent services, which too often went unaddressed under Santos, and Suozzi knows every neighborhood and every need because of his experience as the former mayor of Glen Cove, two terms as Nassau County executive, and three previous full terms in Congress before he declined to seek reelection to participate in the 2022 gubernatorial primary.

LiPetri, an attorney who until recently worked for Park Strategies, the lobbying firm founded by former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, previously served in New York City’s corporation counsel office under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. LiPetri, too, emphasized bipartisanship, pointing to his support of water quality initiatives and his position on abortion as examples of how he differs from his party. The Farmingdale Republican says he’s against abortion after the 24th week, except to save a mother’s life, and does not support a federal ban. Suozzi has supported broader abortion protections, including a federal law that would guarantee access to abortion in all states.

MUST SEEK COMPROMISE

LiPetri, like Trump, supports the mass deportation of millions of people here illegally without any specific plans on how that would be carried out, and he says Republicans were correct to listen to Trump and reject the bipartisan border bill. When asked about immigration policy for children, known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, LiPetri, 34, rejected the notion that such children should ever have a path to citizenship. He calls himself “pragmatic” but his hard-line attitude won’t help solve the border issues — and it certainly doesn’t speak to a willingness to compromise which will be needed to help solve this problem.

LiPetri also proposes a crackdown on crime by turning over to the federal government some matters that are traditionally the jurisdiction of state district attorneys, such as killing a police officer specifically in sanctuary cities and surrounding areas.

Suozzi has the support of the Nassau County PBA.

LiPetri promises open dialogue and bipartisan compromise. But overlaying that is a constant pushback against those who disagree with him and a sometimes dismissive attitude that won’t serve his district or the nation well.

Suozzi’s first seven months back in Congress representing the 3rd Congressional District have erased the sad tenure of Santos. District voters chose in February a solid, reasonable, smart leader who has the ear and trust of those in power. Now, Suozzi has to build upon what he started, mixing his attention to the district’s needs with his ability to work from the center to manage complex national challenges.

Newsday endorses Suozzi.