In a recent special election, Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat, emerged victorious over Republican Mazi Pilip, prompting the White House to characterize the outcome as a "devastating repudiation" of former President Trump and Republicans in Congress. Suozzi's win comes as he replaces disgraced former Rep. George Santos, who had previously held the seat as a Republican.

The White House spokesman, Andrew Bates, highlighted Suozzi's support for a bipartisan border security bill that failed to pass in Congress last week. Bates emphasized that Suozzi made it a key aspect of his campaign, positioning himself at the forefront of championing the proposed legislation. He criticized Speaker Johnson for prioritizing politics, Donald Trump, and fentanyl traffickers over the Border Patrol Union and America's national security.

Bates contended that the election results spoke volumes, stressing that congressional Republicans were putting politics before national security. He accused them of aligning themselves with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Tehran, against America's defense industrial base, NATO, Ukraine, and the nation's interests in the Indo-Pacific.

Meanwhile, former President Trump denounced Pilip, referring to her as a "foolish woman" and claiming that she attempted to distance herself from him during her campaign. Though she did not endorse Trump and expressed reservations about supporting him if convicted of a crime, she refrained from criticizing him directly.

The race saw a significant influx of financial support from both Democrats and Republicans. The district, which had long been under Democratic control, flipped red in 2022 when Santos won. However, Santos was later ousted from Congress less than a year into his term.

President Biden personally reached out to Suozzi, extending his congratulations on the election victory. The White House recognized Suozzi's achievement as a notable signal of public sentiment against former President Trump and the Republican party.