In an upcoming special election to replace expelled Rep. George Santos, sources indicate that former Congressman Tom Suozzi is poised to receive the Democratic Party's nomination. State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs announced that a decision could be made as early as Tuesday or no later than Wednesday.

Notably, Governor Hochul has shown no interest in blocking Suozzi's bid, despite him running against her in a primary campaign last year. Suozzi ran on a more conservative platform compared to Hochul, particularly on issues related to public safety, such as the controversial cashless bail law, which Republican Lee Zeldin utilized against Hochul in the general election.

Chairman Jacobs confirmed that Governor Hochul, an ex-congresswoman from Buffalo, prioritizes winning the seat and has no intention of holding a grudge against Suozzi. "It's not in the governor's character to hold a grudge. It's not who she is. She's looking for the candidate with the best chance of winning. She's made that clear to me," Jacobs stated.

Insiders within the Democratic Party in the 3rd Congressional District, which covers Long Island and parts of Queens, have expressed a high level of confidence in Suozzi securing the nomination. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have both voiced support for Suozzi, considering him a moderate Democrat with a proven track record in previous races for the House and Nassau County executive. Rep. Gregory Meeks, Queens Democratic Party leader, is also in favor of Suozzi's nomination.

Meanwhile, the Republican parties in Nassau and Queens are expected to announce their candidate to replace Santos by the end of the week. Following their previous failure to thoroughly vet Santos, who was revealed to be a serial liar and criminal defendant, GOP leaders have expressed their commitment to conducting a more thorough screening process for potential candidates. A screening committee is currently interviewing over two dozen individuals who have expressed interest in running for the seat, although only one will ultimately be selected.

The leading contenders among Republicans include Nassau County legislator Mazi Pilip, an Ethiopian-Israeli American with a background in the Israel Defense Forces, as well as state Sen. Jack Martins and retired NYPD Detective and security consultant Mike Sapraicone.

Despite Suozzi's strong candidacy, Democratic insiders acknowledge that the battle for the seat will be challenging. After redistricting, the 3rd Congressional District has become more conservative than when Suozzi last ran. Republicans have also recently achieved victories in major county-wide offices, while successfully critiquing their opponents for unpopular Democratic-backed policies such as the contentious cashless bail law.

In the last year's gubernatorial race, Republican Lee Zeldin won the 3rd Congressional District by a resounding 14-point margin over Hochul, a testament to the district's conservative leaning. Prior to his expulsion, Santos handily defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman before his alleged fundraising corruption, ethical breaches, and blatant falsehoods caught up with him, ultimately leading to his removal from office.