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Tom Suozzi: Pandering to Political Extremes Is "A Road to Ruin"

Rep. Tom Suozzi, a centrist Democrat from a district that voted for Donald Trump in 2024, warned that pandering to far-left and far-right activists is "a road to ruin." He argued that a small but vocal faction has reduced compromise in Washington and urged leaders to focus on practical solutions that address affordability and safety. Suozzi credited his narrow victory to reaching across the aisle and called on Democrats to reject ideological extremes in favor of mainstream policies.

12:16 AM, 11/23/2025Politics
Tom Suozzi: Pandering to Political Extremes Is "A Road to Ruin"

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), a centrist representing a district carried by Donald Trump in 2024, warned that elected officials on both sides who pander to extremes risk harming the country’s ability to govern effectively.

"It's a road to ruin, because too many extremists, too many elected officials, are busy pandering to their base instead of listening to the general public and instead of trying to find common ground," Suozzi said. He described activists on the far left and far right as a relatively small but highly active segment that has exerted outsized influence in Congress and contributed to a breakdown in compromise.

Suozzi represents a district that stretches from suburban Long Island into parts of New York City. He noted sharp Republican gains in his area during the recent election cycle and described his own 2024 victory as narrow: "Trump won by 19,000 votes and I won by 11,000 votes, and I had to get 20,000 people who voted for Donald Trump to also vote for me." He said local races showed voters responding to concerns about economic insecurity and public safety.

Why moderation, he says, matters

Suozzi credited his success to listening broadly to constituents and pursuing practical priorities: securing the border, addressing affordability, and supporting public safety. He pointed to endorsements and clear policy positions as reasons voters crossed party lines.

"We have not seen much compromise these days... I'm sure both sides are inspired by good intention, but it's not long-lasting, and it's not going to help move our country forward."

While acknowledging that candidates on both sides have correctly highlighted economic anxiety, Suozzi rejected socialism as a solution. "The challenge is... what's the solution? I believe that socialism is a terrible solution. It will not work," he said, urging Democrats to focus on mainstream, practical policies that address costs for families.

Policy focus and next steps

As an example of practical reform, Suozzi pointed to the long-stagnant federal minimum wage. He noted that the federal rate has not changed since 2009 and urged renewed efforts to raise wages and ease cost-of-living pressures. Overall, he called on his party to emphasize capitalism, safety, reform, and pride in the country rather than ideological extremes.

Suozzi’s message is a call for bipartisan problem-solving: prioritize solutions that reflect the concerns of a broad electorate and seek compromise rather than catering solely to vocal fringes.

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