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Edited by: TJVNews.com
Long Island Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi is facing intense backlash after voting against a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women from competing in female sports. As The New York Post reported on Sunday, Suozzi’s decision to side with his party leadership over his own district’s preferences has fueled Republican attacks and could pose a serious obstacle to his re-election in 2026.
Suozzi’s opposition to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act has Republicans accusing him of betraying his moderate image. The bill, which passed the House on January 14, 2026, by a vote of 216-206, was overwhelmingly supported by Republicans, with only two Texas Democrats breaking ranks to back the measure.
According to the information provided in The New York Post report, Suozzi previously stated that he believed biological males should not compete in female sports. In the wake of his narrow 4-point victory over Republican challenger Mike LiPetri in November, Suozzi even acknowledged that Democrats needed to stop pandering to the far-left on this issue.
“I don’t want to discriminate against anybody, but I don’t think biological boys should be playing in girls’ sports. Democrats aren’t saying that, and they should be,” Suozzi said at the time, as reported by The New York Post.
Yet, despite this seemingly strong stance, Suozzi voted against the bill—a move that has Republicans calling him “spineless” and accusing him of political cowardice.
Following Suozzi’s no vote, The New York Post reported that the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (NRCC) wasted no time in attacking the congressman.
NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole issued a scathing statement: “Spineless Tom Suozzi lied to voters, blatantly flip-flopped his position, and abandoned his district when he sided with [House Democratic minority leader] Hakeem Jeffries and [Governor] Kathy Hochul by voting to allow boys to compete in girls’ sports.”
The attack is particularly potent because Suozzi’s home base, Nassau County, has already enacted a local ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports at county facilities. Last year, Nassau became one of the first counties in the nation to pass such a measure, making Suozzi’s decision to vote against the federal version all the more politically damaging.
Even Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman took aim at Suozzi, telling The New York Post: “I am disappointed that our [Long Island] Congressional Delegation chose to support their Democrat Party bosses rather than their constituents. The girls and women who only want fair competition and a safe environment to compete deserve better.”
In response to the growing controversy, The New York Post reported that Suozzi attempted to justify his vote, claiming that while he does not believe transgender women should compete in competitive women’s sports, he found the bill too extreme.
“This is a typical political attack and gotcha game,” Suozzi said to The New York Post. “I do not believe transgender women should compete in competitive women’s sports, but this poorly written, partisan bill would subject young girls to invasive exams and encourage bullying based on appearance.”
Instead, Suozzi argued that sports governing bodies—not politicians—should be the ones to establish fair rules.
“We should rely on sports governing bodies to establish fair rules for competitive women’s sports and education experts to develop appropriate guidelines for elementary and high schools,” he said.
Given that Long Island is a politically competitive region, Suozzi’s flip-flop could have serious consequences for his 2026 re-election bid.
As The New York Post report pointed out, Nassau County is shifting right – The county has been trending more Republican, with local GOP officials aggressively pushing back against progressive policies.
Trump carried Suozzi’s district in 2024 – President Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris by 4 percentage points in the 3rd Congressional District, suggesting that voters are not aligned with Suozzi’s leftward shift.
Suozzi’s margin of victory was razor-thin – In 2024, he only won by 4 points, meaning that any loss of support from moderates and independents could cost him his seat.
Meanwhile, The New York Post reported that the Senate version of the trans sports ban bill was introduced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a former Auburn University football coach. The GOP-controlled Senate is now expected to push the legislation forward, and Republicans are hopeful that it will reach President Trump’s desk for signature.
Suozzi’s no vote on the trans athlete ban has sparked fierce criticism from Republicans and Nassau County officials, with The New York Post report highlighting that it could become a key campaign issue in the 2026 congressional elections.
By going against his prior stance, Suozzi has alienated conservative-leaning moderates in his district, while at the same time failing to fully win over progressives, who already distrust his centrist leanings. With Republicans increasingly targeting swing districts such as his, and with Trump’s continued influence in Nassau County, Suozzi’s flip-flop on transgender athletes in women’s sports may prove to be a political miscalculation that costs him his seat.
