Tom Suozzi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Suozzi
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 3rd district |
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| Assumed office February 28, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | George Santos |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Steve Israel |
| Succeeded by | George Santos |
| 7th County Executive of Nassau County | |
| In office January 1, 2002 – December 30, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Gulotta |
| Succeeded by | Ed Mangano |
| Mayor of Glen Cove | |
| In office January 1, 1994 – December 31, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Donald DeRiggi |
| Succeeded by | Mary Ann Holzkamp |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Richard Suozzi
August 31, 1962 Glen Cove, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Helene Wrotniak
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Joseph A. Suozzi (father) |
| Education | Boston College (BS) Fordham University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Thomas Richard Suozzi (born August 31, 1962) is an American politician. He is a U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district. He has served in this role since February 2024. He also held the same position from 2017 to 2023.
Suozzi is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming a U.S. Representative, he was the county executive of Nassau County on Long Island. He held this job from 2002 to 2009. He also served as the mayor of Glen Cove for eight years. His district covers northern Nassau County and parts of northeastern Queens.
In 2022, Suozzi ran for governor of New York but did not win the Democratic nomination. In October 2023, he announced he would run for his old congressional seat again. After George Santos was removed from Congress, a special election was held. Suozzi won this special election on February 13, 2024, and returned to Congress. He was re-elected in November 2024.
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Early Life and Education
Suozzi was born on August 31, 1962, in Glen Cove, New York. He was the youngest of five children. His father, Joseph A. Suozzi, was a lawyer and served as Glen Cove's mayor. Joseph came to the United States from Italy as a child. Suozzi's mother, Marguerite, was a nurse.
Suozzi finished high school at Chaminade High School in 1980. He then went to Boston College, where he earned a degree in accounting in 1984. After working as an accountant for two years, he decided to study law. He earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1989.
Professional Career
Suozzi started his career as an accountant. After law school, he worked as a law clerk for a judge. He then became a commercial litigator, which means he worked on business lawsuits. He did this until 1993.
After serving in public office, Suozzi also worked in the private sector. He was an attorney and a consultant for different companies until 2016. In 2023, after leaving Congress for a short time, he joined a company called Actum as a co-chair.
Early Political Career
Mayor of Glen Cove
In 1993, Suozzi was elected mayor of Glen Cove, New York. He served as mayor for four terms, which is eight years. His father, Joseph A. Suozzi, and other family members also served as mayors of Glen Cove.
As mayor, Suozzi worked on cleaning up old industrial sites. He helped close and take apart the Glen Cove incinerator in 1994. He also helped clean up and rebuild the old Li Tungsten Refinery site.
Nassau County Executive
Suozzi became the Nassau County Executive in 2001. He was the first Democrat to win this job in Nassau County in 30 years. He took office when the county was facing big money problems. Nassau County had a large yearly debt and its credit rating was very low.
While in office, Suozzi worked to cut spending and reduce the county's debt. He helped improve Nassau's finances, getting 11 bond upgrades in two years. He also got rid of deficits and built up extra money. In 2005, Governing Magazine called him one of their Public Officials of the Year. They praised him for helping Nassau County recover from its financial troubles. He also received praise for social programs, like one that made it easier for people to get social services.
Suozzi lost the county executive election in 2009. He ran again in 2013 but lost to Ed Mangano.
Gubernatorial Campaigns
Suozzi ran for governor of New York in the Democratic primary in 2006. He lost to Eliot Spitzer.
He ran for governor again in 2022. He was against a plan by Governor Kathy Hochul to allow more small apartments on properties with single-family homes. He said he supported solving housing problems but was against "ending single-family housing." He placed third in the Democratic primary.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2016 Election
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In June 2016, Suozzi won the Democratic primary election for New York's 3rd congressional district. He was supported by major newspapers like The New York Times. He won the general election on November 8, 2016, and started representing the district in January 2017.
2018 Election
In June 2018, Suozzi won the Democratic primary without anyone running against him. He then won the general election against Republican Dan DeBono.
2020 Election
In June 2020, Suozzi won a three-way Democratic primary. In the general election, he defeated Republican George Santos.
2024 Election
Suozzi announced he would run for his old seat in Congress in November 2023. After Representative George Santos was removed from Congress, a special election was set for February 13, 2024. Suozzi was chosen as the Democratic candidate. He won the special election against Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip.
As the winner of the special election, Suozzi finished the rest of Santos's term in the House. Both Suozzi and Pilip strongly supported Israel during their campaigns. They also talked a lot about the issue of migrants coming into the United States. Suozzi was re-elected in November 2024, defeating Republican Mike LiPetri.
Tenure
In Congress, Suozzi has focused on tax policy. He worked to bring back the full state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which was limited in 2017. He led efforts to remove this limit, but it was not successful.
In 2024, Suozzi voted to approve military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. He also wrote an article in The New York Times in 2025. In it, he suggested that Democrats should work with the Trump administration. He said that voters want progress and compromise on important issues like the economy, immigration, and crime. He was later elected as a co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of lawmakers who work together across political parties.
Committee Assignments
For the 119th Congress, Tom Suozzi is part of these committees:
- Committee on Ways and Means
- Subcommittee on Oversight
- Subcommittee on Tax
Caucus Memberships
Suozzi is a member of several groups in Congress, including:
- Problem Solvers Caucus (co-chair)
- New Democrat Coalition
- SALT Caucus (co-chair)
- Quiet Skies Caucus (vice chair)
- International Conservation Caucus
- Uyghur Caucus (co-founder and co-chair)
- Democrats for Border Security Task Force (co-chair)
Personal Life
Tom Suozzi and his wife, Helene, got married in 1993. They live in Glen Cove, New York and have three children. His son, Joe, plays baseball in the minor leagues for the New York Mets. Suozzi is Catholic.
Images for kids
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Tom Suozzi's signature
See also
- List of United States representatives from New York
- United States congressional delegations from New York
