It’s not every day that police officers and firefighters cross party lines to back a Democrat, but in one of the most closely watched congressional rematches in New York, that is exactly what is happening. Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi has landed the endorsement of two of the most influential labor unions in the region: the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association and the New York City Uniformed Firefighters Association. These are not symbolic endorsements. They represent thousands of working men and women who patrol the streets, respond to emergencies, and put their lives on the line in the communities that make up New York’s Third Congressional District. That district stretches across parts of Nassau County, Queens, and Suffolk, a mix of suburban neighborhoods and urban communities where public safety is often the number one concern. Suozzi is facing a tough rematch against Republican Mike LiPetri, a former state assemblyman who came within just three percentage points of unseating him in 2024. In a race that could help determine control of the House, the endorsement from these unions gives Suozzi a powerful counter-narrative to the Republican claim that he is soft on crime. It also sends a message to voters that the people whose job it is to keep them safe trust Suozzi to have their backs in Washington.
For Nassau County PBA president Tom Shevlin, the decision to endorse Suozzi again was an easy one. Shevlin pointed to Suozzi’s consistent support for law enforcement, including his frequent statements on the floor of Congress rejecting the defund-the-police movement. “We supported him two years ago and he has been working hard to work with both sides of the aisle,” Shevlin said. “He backs the blue and states all the time on the Congress floor that he absolutely rejects the defunding the police movement.” Shevlin also made clear that this endorsement is not about party loyalty, but about genuine partnership. “We support candidates who are willing to support us even if that means going against their own party,” he added. That last line matters because it speaks to a deeper truth: police unions do not hand out endorsements lightly. When they do, it is usually because they believe the candidate will actually show up, listen, and deliver resources, equipment, training, and respect. Suozzi welcomed the endorsement with the kind of language that sounds straightforward but carries real political weight. “I am proud to once again have the endorsement of the Nassau County PBA,” he said. “I have spent my career supporting law enforcement and making sure our officers have the resources they need to keep us safe.” He then took a direct swipe at his opponent’s strategy, adding, “As my opponent attacks and distorts my record, the men and women who protect us day and night know where I stand, and I am honored to have their trust and support.” For Suozzi, this endorsement is personal as much as political. He served as Nassau County executive for many years, working side by side with county police and emergency responders, so he has a long history with the people who are now vouching for his character.
The endorsement from the Uniformed Firefighters Association carries its own powerful symbolism. The UFA represents New York City firefighters, many of whom live in Queens and Nassau and vote in this very district. These are the men and women who run into burning buildings when everyone else is running out. They have no patience for political games, and they tend to support leaders who show up during crises, not just during campaign season. UFA president Bobby Eustace praised Suozzi in language that felt both old-fashioned and refreshing in today’s hyper-partisan climate. “In his over thirty years as a public servant, Tom Suozzi has continued to demonstrate that he sees beyond party lines and works across the aisle to do what’s best for his constituents,” Eustace said. That word “constituents” is key. Firefighters do not care whether an idea comes from a Democrat or a Republican; they care whether it actually helps protect families, improve safety standards, and strengthen the emergency services that everyone relies on. For Suozzi, who has served in Congress, as Nassau County executive, and as mayor of Glen Cove, the idea of working across the aisle is not just a talking point. It is a survival strategy in a district that is politically competitive, with a significant number of independent and moderate Republican voters who are willing to split their tickets for a candidate they trust. The fact that both police and fire unions are willing to put their reputations on the line for Suozzi suggests that his reputation for bipartisanship is not just spin. It is backed by people who see him up close, in communities, at emergency scenes, and in the halls of government.
Of course, none of this means Suozzi is safe. Republicans are pouring serious money into this race, determined to flip the seat. A Trump-aligned super PAC called No Going Back PAC has spent nearly eight million dollars to help LiPetri topple Suozzi. That spending includes $5.7 million in television ads in recent weeks and another $2 million in mailings that tout LiPetri and paint Suozzi as insufficiently tough on crime and too cozy with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. The attacks are part of a broader Republican strategy to define Suozzi as a liberal in moderate clothing, despite his record of opposing defund-the-police efforts and his reputation as a pragmatic former county executive. For LiPetri, this is the ultimate redemption story. He lost to Suozzi by a narrow margin in 2024, and now he is back for another shot, backed by a massive war chest and national Republican energy. The district is one of the most competitive in New York, and with control of the House hanging in the balance, both parties are treating it as a must-win. That means voters in Nassau and Queens are being flooded with mailers, hit pieces, and television commercials, many of them highly negative. In that kind of environment, endorsements from trusted local institutions like the police and firefighter unions can cut through the noise in a way that no advertisement can. When a firefighter or police officer tells a neighbor, “We know this guy, he showed up for us,” that carries more weight than a super PAC’s attack ad.
Suozzi’s path back to Congress has been anything but smooth. He is a former Nassau County executive who is currently serving his second stint in the House. But between those two stints, he took a serious political risk. He gave up his congressional seat in 2022 to run for governor, only to lose the Democratic primary to incumbent Kathy Hochul. For many politicians, that would have been the end. But Suozzi kept his focus on public service, and when the seat he once held became vacant after serial liar and former Republican Rep. George Santos was expelled from the House, Suozzi ran again in February 2024 and won a special election. Then, in November 2024, he narrowly defeated LiPetri for the full term. That resilience is part of the story that Suozzi’s supporters tell. They describe a man who has dedicated his life to the district, who knows every intersection, every firehouse, every precinct, and who is willing to take the tough fights even when they are not politically convenient. Now, as he faces LiPetri again, another force is entering the equation: Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and a Republican, is the party’s candidate for governor. Blakeman is expected to run well at the top of the ticket against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, and his presence could boost Republican turnout in Nassau County, which would help LiPetri. This is a real threat for Suozzi, whose electoral coalition has always depended on moderate Republicans and independents in the suburbs. If Blakeman is pulling those voters to the GOP column, Suozzi will need every cross-party endorsement he can get to hold his ground.
In the end, the endorsement of police and firefighters is about more than politics. It is about trust, character, and the kind of leadership people want when the lights go out, the sirens wail, or the smoke gets thick. Suozzi has spent his career building relationships with the people who keep New Yorkers safe, and now those relationships are paying off in a very public way. The campaign will continue to be messy, expensive, and contentious. LiPetri and his Republican allies will keep trying to paint Suozzi as a rubber stamp for the left. Suozzi will keep pointing to his record, his endorsements, and his willingness to work with anyone who wants to get things done. But for the voters who are watching from their living rooms, the question may come down to something simpler: Who do the people who risk their lives every day trust? The answer, at least according to the Nassau County PBA and the NYC Uniformed Firefighters Association, is Tom Suozzi. That is the kind of message that can survive the flood of negative ads and the noise of a hyper-partisan election. It is a reminder that even in a deeply divided country, there are still moments when service and solidarity transcend party lines. And in a district as close and competitive as this one, those moments can make all the difference on Election Day.
