Democrat Tom Suozzi wins race to replace George Santos

A Democrat has won the swing US congressional district left vacant when former Republican Congressman George Santos was expelled last December.

Tom Suozzi's Tuesday night victory over rival Mazi Pilip denies Republicans a chance to pad out their slim majority in the House of Representatives.

He will finish Mr Santos's term following his removal from Congress over allegations of fraud.

The race was a closely watched bellwether for the November elections.

The election marks a return to Congress for Mr Suozzi, who previously served three terms in the US House but opted in 2022 to run for governor in New York instead.

That bid was unsuccessful, and voters replaced him in Congress with Mr Santos.

With a campaign slogan of "Let's Fix This," the former congressman embarked on a well-funded effort to reclaim his district. He pitched himself as an experienced leader - one whose biography voters already knew well.

Ms Pilip, the Republican candidate, conceded the special election race on Tuesday evening in a speech to supporters.