This is the second in a three-part series examining the major candidates running in New Yorks Democratic primary for governor. The first, on Jumaane Williams, can be read here. Primary Day is June 28.
Rep. Tom Suozzi has taken his share of grief in his long-shot effort to topple Gov. Hochul in the Democratic race for governor.
Suozzi, a centrist Long Island Democrat, has been told to stand down by Hillary Clinton and rejected by the state Democratic Party.
He has faced criticism over a series of perceived gaffes, including a declaration in a Penn Station news conference that the hub is scary, and a call with journalists in which he tied the Buffalo massacre to bail reform before clarifying that his preferred bail changes wouldnt have helped.
And without a clear lane against the relatively moderate Hochul, Suozzi has struggled to find major backers. His campaign website does not even bother listing his collection of endorsers.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) (Bebeto Matthews/AP)
But to hear Suozzi tell it, his straight-talking commonsense campaign represents the last defense against electoral ruin for Democrats in the general election.
Everybody should look at the public polling that says that Kathy Hochul has a 37% job approval rating, Suozzi said, referencing an April Siena College survey that found 36% of New Yorkers viewed her performance as good or excellent.
So if the Democrats want to win in November, they should elect Tom Suozzi, because the Republicans cant beat me, he said. Because Ill win on Long Island. And because Im talking about what people care about, which is crime and taxes.
Hochul holds prodigious polling leads over Suozzi and the progressive in the primary race, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. And whoever wins the race will hold a clear advantage in the general election: Democrats outnumber Republicans in New York by more than two to one.
[Jumaane Williams seeks to channel progressive energy in New York governors race]
But Suozzi, the former four-term mayor of Glen Cove, does have Long Island bona fides. And he has brought more than a little Long Island attitude to the Democratic primary.
Tom Suozzi speaks to a gathering of supporters during a rally outside the New York State Democratic Convention in Buffalo, N.Y., on Tuesday, May 30, 2006. (DON HEUPEL/AP)
While Williams has banked his campaign on progressive promises to enhance funding for social services, and Hochul has hoped voters will reward her work to drive back COVID, take on crime and tweak the 2019 bail reform law, Suozzi has served as the fearless attack dog in the race.
Suozzi lashes political correctness. He talks passionately about slashing taxes. He delivers lines like more money is not the answer to things.
In his ads and campaign literature, he hammers Hochul over crime rates that have climbed in her nine-month tenure, and for long-discarded support she once carried from the National Rifle Association.
Its a negative campaign, said Sid Davidoff, a longtime lobbyist and fixture in New York politics. I dont think that thats working today. She doesnt have an achilles heel that hes been able to find.
[Always aiming high: Friends, family, fellow pols recall incoming NY governor Kathy Hochul as determined, folksy and fierce]
But Suozzi said he is simply trying to hold Hochul accountable.
If people think Im being tough on Kathy Hochul, how do they think Lee Zeldin or Andrew Giuliani will treat Kathy Hochul? Suozzi said, referencing Republican primary candidates for governor. Kathy Hochul has not addressed crime. She has not addressed taxes. She has not helped our kids who are left behind.
His antidotes include a 10% cut to state income tax, an intensified rollback of the bail reform law and a push to transform the states office buildings into affordable housing.
The 59-year-old congressmans tone, more conservative than one might expect from a Democratic candidate in New York, can get him into trouble.
In April, one of his former campaign staffers, Matt Albert, wrote a column in the Daily News headlined, Im gay, and my old boss Tom Suozzi let me down, after the candidate said on a radio show that he thought Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay law was a very reasonable law.
Suozzi later described his remark as inartful and declared his opposition to the Florida law, which limits discussion of gender and sexual identity in Florida classrooms.
But his overarching argument beyond his PC-free persona is a claim that he would manage the state more ably than Hochul, and speak more directly to New Yorkers needs.
Things need to be run better, he told the Daily News. Im a lifelong Democrat. I have a heart for the people, but I use common sense and a skill set that Ive developed over a lifetime.
Rep. Tom Suozzi speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. (AP)
Suozzi grew up in Glen Cove, a suburb on the shore of the Long Island Sound about 25 miles from Midtown Manhattan.
His dad, an immigrant from Italy, served as mayor of Glen Cove, campaigned for John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential run and became a justice of the State Supreme Court.
The young Suozzi attended Boston College and Fordham Law School in the city. Along the way, he became enamored of former Gov. Mario Cuomo, perhaps planting the seeds of his own push for governor.
From 1993 to 2001, he served as Glen Cove mayor, and after that became the Nassau County executive, earning plaudits for his stewardship of the countys finances.
And then in 2006 he ran for governor. It did not go well. He lost in the Democratic primary by more than 60 percentage points to Eliot Spitzer, then the state attorney general. Suozzi did not even win on his home turf in Nassau County.
After his loss, Suozzi returned to Nassau and worked to rebuild his relationships in Albany, taking some time away from politics after losing a 2009 reelection bid for county executive to a Republican, Edward Mangano.
Tom Suozzi, a Democratic candidate for New York governor, addresses followers at a rally in Lafayette Square in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, May 30, 2006. (ROBERT KIRKHAM/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The gubernatorial dream simmered as Mario Cuomos son, Andrew, took the reins in Albany.
In 2016, when Rep. Steve Israel, a Democrat, decided to retire from the House seat representing Glen Cove, Suozzi took his shot and won. He bested a state senator, Jack Martins, by about six percentage points in the general election.
He has stayed in the seat since, but Mayor Adams attempted to woo him from Washington last year, offering him a deputy mayor post. Suozzi declined, setting his sights on the Executive Mansion and announcing his candidacy in November.
Hes always wanted to be governor, Davidoff said. Hes taking his best and probably last shot at something that he really wants.
But the state Democratic Party quickly consolidated its support behind Hochul. In February, at the state partys nomination convention in Manhattan, Suozzi said Clinton had tried to get him to drop from the race, telling him he was doing well in Congress.
He shrugged her off.
A lot of people have tried to talk me out of running, he told reporters covering the convention. Its been a big refrain.
Read this article:
- 19 Shocking Examples Of How Political Correctness Is ... [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- Political Correctness / Cultural Marxism - Discover the ... [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- The origin and nature of political correctness (26/11/2015) [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- The Origins of Political Correctness - Accuracy In Academia [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- Political Correctness - Blogs - Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Political correctness - the awful truth [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- 20 Outrageous Examples That Show How Political Correctness ... [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Political correctness Archives | Human Stupidity ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Political correctness Archives | Human Stupidity ... [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- How to Be Politically Correct (with Pictures) - wikiHow [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2016]
- Urban Dictionary: political correctness [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2016]
- Political Correctness = Language and Thought Control ... [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2016]
- Political Correctness = Language and Thought Control - The ... [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Uncyclopedia - Wikia [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2016]
- political correctness - The American Prospect [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2016]
- Political correctness | The Economist [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2016]
- The Phony Debate About Political Correctness - ThinkProgress [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2016]
- Political Correctness Watch [Last Updated On: December 2nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 2nd, 2016]
- Political correctness: how the right invented a phantom ... [Last Updated On: December 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 4th, 2016]
- Political Correctness Gone Mad - TV Tropes [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- The Origins of Political Correctness - academia.org [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2017]
- Letter: A guide to political correctness - Carroll County Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Sports: America's Great Escape from Political Correctness - American Spectator [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Letter: Political correctness has gone too far - The Herald-News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Boy Scouts ruined by political correctness: Your Say - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Spicer says 'political correctness' infringes on 'freedom of religion' - Washington Post [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Spicer Says Religious Liberty Is Getting 'Pushed Out' By Political Correctness - TPM [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Trump's right-wing political correctness makes us less safe - Daily Kos - Daily Kos [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Political correctness exists to build respect for the oppressed - Kenyon Collegian [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Fixing political correctness - The Stanford Daily [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Authoritarian political correctness - Dailyuw [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Letter: Political correctness is akin to golden rule - The Buffalo News - Buffalo News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- We must take a wrecking ball to political correctness to achieve our true economic potential - City A.M. [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Slamming 'political correctness,' Casper scraps recycling program ... - Casper Star-Tribune Online [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Too PC? - Two Views on Political Correctness - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Political correctness is life and death on a hilarious It's Always Sunny - A.V. Club [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- To a Collegian columnist: Disregarding political correctness hinders social justice causes - Kenyon Collegian [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Pro-Trump priest casts political correctness aside and creates quite ... - BizPac Review [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Foregoing Political Correctness, The Senate Should Have Let Warren Speak - Daily Caller [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Netflix Boycott Over 'Dear White People' Is Right-Wing Political Correctness in Action - Heat Street [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Trump's Right-wing Political Correctness Makes Us Less Safe - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- When Will They Purge Indian History Of Political Correctness And Teach Us As It Is? - Swarajya [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Editorial: Brown puts political correctness above jobs - Daily Astorian [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Slamming 'political correctness,' Casper scraps recycling program for electronics - Casper Star-Tribune Online [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Letter: Political correctness has endangered our safety | INFORUM - INFORUM [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Letter to the editor: Political correctness has influenced minds - Post Register [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Political Correctness Is An Absolute Must | Time.com [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Political Correctness Propagates Radical Liberalism and Undermines The Truth - Accuracy In Media (blog) [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Words, Tweets and Stones in the "Political Correctness" Wars ... - EconoTimes [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- 'Political correctness' mostly used as epithet - Walton Tribune [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- PewDiePie: Alt-Right Nazi, Victim of Political Correctness, or Just an Idiot? - Reason (blog) [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Political correctness weaponized in face of unpopular opinion - The Vermilion [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- Trevor Phillips: 'Political correctness ushered in the populist wave' - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- Ferguson Political Correctness - The Missourian [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- The folly of political correctness is exposed by one of its high priests ... - The Times (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Populist correctness: the new PC culture of Trump's America and Brexit Britain - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Political correctness on a downward spiral - NCC Linked [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Publishers Pen - Political Correctness and Lawlessness: A Rant - Up & Coming Weekly [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Better Education Responsible for Political Correctness - NYU Washington Square News [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Fed up with political correctness - The Rushville Republican [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- The Dark State of Political Correctness - American Spectator [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Thursday February 23, 2017 - Israel Hayom [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Jim Bailey column: Caught up in political correctness - The Herald Bulletin [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Political correctness is to blame for terrorist payout, says Leo McKinstry - Express.co.uk [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Jones: It's not political correctness, just common decency - Philly.com [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Thursday's best TV: Born Too White; Has Political Correctness Gone ... - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Is There Space For Political Correctness In Fashion? Gucci Says Maybe Not - Refinery29 [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Op-ed: He's just saying what we're all thinking: How political correctness fails us in the age of Trump - The Eagle [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- The Bus Campaign That's Giving UK Political Correctness a Run for ... - CBN News [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- CPAC inadvertently shows logic behind political correctness - UT The Daily Texan [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Despite Rumblings About Political Correctness, the Black Oscar Nominees This Year Deserve All the Accolades - Heat Street [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- The backlash to political correctness was inevitable - Shoreline Beacon [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- EDITORIAL: Political correctness ... and more absurdities | The ... - The Daily Progress [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Political correctness puts end to much loved television characters ... - Starts at 60 [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Political Correctness Hurt the Oscars - WSAU (blog) [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Fox News' Tucker Carlson says 'Moonlight' only won Best Picture because of political correctness - ThinkProgress [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Is political correctness killing US institutions? - Canada Free Press [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]