From the New York Times, I'm Sabrina Tavernisi, and this is the Daily.

Today, voters in New York will choose the successor to George Santos, the disgraced

Republican who was expelled from Congress in December.

Democrats would seem to have the advantage.

Instead, it's a dead heat.

My colleague, Nick Fandos, explains explains why and tells me how the results of the race will hold important

clues for both parties come November.

It's Tuesday, February 13th. So Nick you've been following the race for the seat formally occupied by George Santos and you know setting aside Santos' brief and kind of riveting congressional tenure, I'd like to start with the

most basic question, which is why does this race over this one house seat on Long Island matter?

It's a great question. Now I'd start by saying let's not just so quickly race over

George Santos. This was a guy who's year-long embarrassment put this

district on the map. I think left a lot of voters there really exacerbated.

I mean it is probably the reason why you and I are talking right now. That's very true.

But we're also talking because this is a

really special district. We're talking about a slice of Queens and Long Island

that is racially diverse, ethnically diverse, got people of all kinds of

socioeconomic statuses.

And as such, it's the type of place that we see all over the country where elections are probably

going to be decided later this year for president and for control of the House of Representatives.

This area has swung back and forth a lot.

President Biden won this district by 8 points in 2020 and then two years later in 2022 George Santos was one of a

handful of Republicans who flipped seats right here in New York that helped the

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