Mazi Pilip admits it was a ‘mistake’ not to seek Trump’s endorsement in NY special election race
Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip expressed regret Wednesday for not seeking Donald Trump’s endorsement in her failed congressional bid to replace former Rep. George Santos.
Pilip, who at the time was a registered Democrat running as a Republican, lost the Feb. 13 special election for New York’s 3rd Congressional District seat to Suozzi by more than 7 points.
“Fake news that I do not support Trump. I love Trump. Great President. My mistake not seeking his endorsement,” Pilip wrote on X.
Pilip’s comments supporting the former president came after she changed her party affiliation to Republican.
She announced the switch this week on Instagram, according to Patch.com.
On the campaign trail, Pilip noted that she wouldn’t support Trump, 77, in November if he’s convicted of a crime before Election Day.
“Nobody is above the law,” the Ethiopia-born Nassau County legislator said during a candidate forum in January. “If he’s convicted of a crime, he cannot represent us.”
After her loss to Suozzi, 61, Trump lashed out at Pilip, arguing that her refusal to endorse him cost Republicans the race and that the party should find a different candidate to run in November.
“Republicans just don’t learn, but maybe she was still a Democrat?” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “I have an almost 99% Endorsement Success Rate in Primaries, and a very good number in the General Elections, as well, but just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, running in a race where she didn’t endorse me and tried to ‘straddle the fence,’ when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America.”
“Give us a real candidate in the district for November,” he added, claiming that his supporters in the district stayed home and didn’t vote because Pilip didn’t seek his endorsement.
Suozzi, who previously represented the Long Island-Queens district for six years, was ceremoniously sworn into Congress Wednesday.
The Democrat’s victory leaves House Republicans with just a 219-213 majority in Congress, meaning that the GOP caucus can only afford two defections on any vote that all Democrats are opposed to.
Suozzi took aim at House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in his first floor speech, rejecting the GOP leader’s assessment that he “ran like a Republican.”
“Mr. Speaker, after my recent election you said something I must gently take exception to. You said, ‘Tom Suozzi ran like a Republican.’ Now, I know you meant that as a compliment. Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker, I’m a true blue, dyed in the wool Democrat,” Suozzi argued.
“I know compromise is hard in this town, Mr. Speaker, but bring a bipartisan compromise to the floor and I guarantee it will pass,” he added. “All of the issues we face in this country are complicated. Every single one of them. And you can’t solve anything in an environment of fear and anger.”
Suozzi will fill out the remainder of Santos’ term in Congress, and he will need to win again in November to serve a full term in the House.
Santos, a 35-year-old Republican, was expelled from the House last December after being hit with a 23-count federal indictment for allegedly having laundered his campaign’s money and defrauded donors. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
