Mike LiPetri, a former state assembly member backed by President Donald Trump, has gained support from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138 in his bid to unseat Rep. Tom Suozzi, a vulnerable Democratic incumbent in one of the nation’s most competitive House races.

Labor Union Endorsement

The endorsement from the 1,500-member union gives LiPetri a boost as he prepares for a rematch contest against Suozzi, who won back the suburban swing seat in 2024 after representing it from 2017 to 2023.

Local 138 Business Manager John Duffy praised LiPetri’s candidacy, saying, ‘We need leaders in Washington with guts — people who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to get the job done, no excuses.’ LiPetri argued that Suozzi has strayed from his moderate image, citing his votes against additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as his opposition to legislation barring biological males from women’s sports in K-12 schools.

LiPetri also criticized Suozzi for his vote against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which created new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and automobile loans. ‘No tax on overtime was critical for union men and women,’ LiPetri said. ‘And they see who my opponent really is, someone that focuses on keeping his job rather than doing his job.’

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.