Poll Shows Tight Race Brewing In Suozzi, Pilip Special Election

GREAT NECK, NY — A poll shows the congressional special election could be a tight race.

Voters will cast their ballots next month in the much-anticipated special election to fill the void left by expelled congressman George Santos.

The poll by Emerson College/PIX11 indicates Tom Suozzi holds a 3-point lead (45-42%), however when adding the margin of error, it is a "dead heat," Mazi Pilip's campaign manager Brian Devine said.

Suozzi sprung into action to recapture his former seat on Capitol Hill before Santos' ouster. The Democrat faces upstart politician Pilip, a county legislator from Great Neck.

Despite not having name recognition, Pilip, an Ethiopian Jew, who was an IDF solider in Israel, is poised for a potential upset.

One wrinkle from the survey, 9% of the respondents are listed as "undecided," which could ultimately make the difference on Feb. 13.

But, Devine is "confident Mazi will enjoy a resounding victory."

Patch attempted to reach Suozzi's campaign about the poll.

There is good news for Suozzi from the Emerson College poll. Suozzi voters said they were enthusiastic about the election with a majority (51-37%) "very likely" to vote for Suozzi.

Delving deeper, Pilip leads among 3rd District white voters (49-40%) and Hispanics (44-33%), while Suozzi holds a 60-25% advantage among the Asian electorate.

Pilip has agreed to debate Suozzi on Feb. 8. He had accepted three other televised debates.