House challenger Mike LiPetri backs deportations of undocumented immigrants

Republican Mike LiPetri says he supports the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and is against nationwide bans on abortion and assault weapons.

And he would certify the results of the 2024 election even if his party doesn't win. 

In a one-on-one with Newsday Associate Editor and columnist Joye Brown, LiPetri fielded live and prerecorded questions from Newsday's political team and residents of the Third Congressional District. The topics included immigration, reproductive rights, fair elections, clean drinking water and the state and local tax (SALT) deductions. 

His opponent, incumbent Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi, declined Newsday's invitation to debate.

LiPetri, 34, of Massapequa Park is challenging Suozzi, 62, of Glen Cove, to represent a district that encompasses northern Queens and Nassau counties, dipping down into Levittown and Massapequa. 

Suozzi is running for a full term after winning back the seat in a closely watched special election in February to replace George Santos, who was expelled from Congress in December 2023. Suozzi had held the seat for six years before stepping down in 2022 to run for New York governor. He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

In the 30-minute interview at the NewsdayTV studio, LiPetri said he supports the idea of mass deportations "because I believe right now we need a reset to focus on legal, merit-based immigration."

He said he would start by deporting hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. When Brown asked a follow-up question about what would come next, LiPetri said he lacked specifics, saying only that he would work with communities toward "an organic bottom-up solution rather than a top-down approach." 

On the issue of reproductive rights, LiPetri said: "I'm opposed to any national abortion ban and I support a woman's right to choose." 

LiPetri also referred several times to Suozzi as a "career politician" and took a swipe at him for having spent seven years in Congress without successfully eliminating the cap on SALT.

When asked for comment, Suozzi campaign adviser Kim Devlin noted the Democrat's role in spearheading "the bipartisan restoration of the SALT deduction and passed it three times through the House."

"He will do it again and this time will also get it through the Senate. Long Islanders know Tom Suozzi, they know his record and his reputation for working across party lines to get things done, including securing the border," Devlin said. "Suozzi is carving the path in Congress for both sides of the aisle to work together to enact bipartisan common sense legislation that is both tough and humane and will finally address the immigration crisis." 

In addition to being a congressman, Suozzi has held several elected offices including City of Glen Cove mayor and Nassau County executive. LiPetri, an attorney and lobbyist, was a member of the state Assembly for one year before an unsuccessful 2020 bid in the 2nd Congressional District, mostly based in Suffolk County, after Rep. Peter King announced his retirement.

While Nassau Republicans celebrated big wins in the 2022 congressional races and in the 2021 and 2023 local races, analysts including the Cook Political Report have rated the 3rd District as a "likely Democratic" win. There are 60,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district. 

As of Sept. 30, Suozzi's campaign had $2.4 million cash on hand and LiPetri had $142,421, according to Federal Elections Commission filings. 

The job of congressman pays $174,000 per year.

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.