Don’t Take the Wrong Message From Tom Suozzi’s Win in New York

In the race for a district that gained national infamy after electing an openly gay, Jew-ish serial liar-turned-indicted criminal 23 times over, Democrat Tom Suozzi came out on top, reclaiming the seat he abandoned two years ago.

But while there is certainly cause for celebration, Dems picking up a seat with a Dem who barely identified as a Dem in a district that’s partially in New York City and holds a 10-point voter enrollment advantage isn’t quite the bellwether some want it to be.

In between popping champagne bottles, declaring victory and making sweeping pronouncements for what Suozzi’s win means for Democrats nationally going into what will be, by all accounts, a nail-biter of an election season, let’s remember that by every measurable standard—voter enrollment, spending and historical trend—Democrats should have run away with it.

Actually, having accomplished victory is more about Democrats in New York getting our shit together after an abysmal showing two years ago where we as a party embarrassingly underperformed nationally.