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 |
| Parent |
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| Education | Boston College (BS) Fordham University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website |
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Thomas Richard Suozzi (born August 31, 1962) is an American politician. He currently serves as a U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district. He held this position from 2017 to 2023, and again since 2024.
He is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming a U.S. representative, he was the county executive of Nassau County from 2002 to 2009. He also served as the mayor of Glen Cove for eight years.
In 2022, Suozzi ran for governor of New York but did not win. In 2023, he decided to run for his old congressional seat again. He won a special election in February 2024, returning to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early Life and Schooling
Tom Suozzi was born in Glen Cove, New York, on August 31, 1962. He is the youngest of five children. His father, Joseph A. Suozzi, was also the mayor of Glen Cove from 1956 to 1960. His 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 Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1984. Two years later, he became a certified public accountant. In 1989, he earned a law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Working Before Politics
Before he started his political career, Suozzi worked as an accountant. He was at a company called Arthur Andersen from 1984 to 1986.
Later, he worked as a law clerk for a judge from 1989 to 1990. He also worked as a lawyer handling business disputes from 1990 to 1993. After leaving Congress for a time, he worked as a consultant for different companies.
Early Political Career
Mayor of Glen Cove
In 1993, Tom Suozzi was elected mayor of Glen Cove, New York. He served as mayor for four terms. His father and uncle had also been mayors of Glen Cove before him.
As mayor, Suozzi worked on cleaning up old industrial sites. He helped close and take down the Glen Cove incinerator in 1994. In 1998, the city tore down and rebuilt an old refinery site.
Nassau County Executive
In 2001, Suozzi was elected Nassau County Executive. He was the first Democrat to win this job in 30 years. He took office when the county was having big money problems.
While in office, Suozzi cut spending and reduced the county's debt. He helped improve Nassau's financial health. In 2005, Governing Magazine recognized him for turning the county's finances around. He also helped improve social services for people in the county.
Suozzi lost his re-election bid for county executive in 2009. He ran again in 2013 but lost by a larger amount.
Running for Governor
2006 Election
In 2006, Suozzi ran for governor of New York. He sought the Democratic nomination against Eliot Spitzer. Most Democratic leaders supported Spitzer.
Suozzi collected enough signatures to be on the primary ballot. During a debate, he mentioned he hoped to become president one day. Spitzer won the primary election with 81% of the votes.
2022 Election
On November 29, 2021, Suozzi announced he would run for governor again in 2022. He was against a plan by Governor Kathy Hochul to allow more housing units on single-family lots. He said he supported solving housing problems but not "ending single-family housing."
Suozzi came in third place in the Democratic primary. He received 12% of the votes.
U.S. House of Representatives
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Elections to Congress
2016 Election
In June 2016, Suozzi won the Democratic primary for New York's 3rd congressional district. He was supported by major newspapers. He won the general election on November 8, with 53% of the votes. He started serving in Congress in January 2017.
2018 Election
In June 2018, Suozzi won the Democratic primary without any opponents. In the main election, he defeated Republican Dan DeBono. Suozzi received 59% of the votes.
2020 Election
In June 2020, Suozzi won a three-way Democratic primary. He received 66.5% of the votes. In the general election, he defeated Republican George Santos with 56% of the votes.
2024 Special Election
Suozzi announced he would run for his old congressional seat in November 2024. 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 Mazi Melesa Pilip. He received 54% of the votes. As the winner, Suozzi will serve the rest of Santos's term. Both Suozzi and Pilip supported Israel and focused their campaigns on immigration issues.
Time in Congress
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Suozzi was a vice-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. This group includes both Democrats and Republicans. He also led other groups, like the Long Island Sound Caucus.
In Congress, Suozzi worked on a law to restore the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. This deduction was limited in 2017. He tried to get other New York representatives to support removing the limit, but it was not successful.
In April 2024, Suozzi voted for military aid packages. These packages were for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Most Democrats also voted for these packages.
After the 2024 presidential election, Suozzi said the Democratic Party lost because of issues like transgender people in sports. He also mentioned a "general attack on traditional values."
Rules for Reporting Stock Trades
In 2021, a group called the Campaign Legal Center said Suozzi had not filed reports on many stock transactions on time. Members of Congress have rules about reporting their stock trades.
In 2022, more reports came out about other stock transactions he had not reported on time. Suozzi told investigators that he had a lot going on in Congress. He said that while ethics were important, these specific reporting rules were not his top priority.
In July 2022, the U.S. House Ethics Committee decided not to charge Suozzi. They said he did not "knowingly or willfully" fail to file the reports. The committee, made of both Democrats and Republicans, voted to dismiss the case. In December 2022, Suozzi reported more stock trades that were past the deadline.
Committees and Groups
Suozzi is part of several important committees and groups in Congress:
- Committee on Homeland Security
- Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement
- Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence
- Committee on the Budget
He is also a member of many caucuses (groups of lawmakers with shared interests), such as:
- Animal Protection Caucus
- Bipartisan Offshore Wind Caucus
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans
- Congressional Fire Services Caucus
- Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus
- Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Quiet Skies Caucus (Vice Chair)
- SALT Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Ukraine Caucus
Personal Life
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Tom Suozzi and his wife, Helene, got married in 1993. They live in Glen Cove and have three children. Their son Joe is a baseball player for the New York Mets organization. Suozzi is Roman Catholic.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2024
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Tom Suozzi's signature
