'That's the GOP theme song': Steve Bannon trolled for claiming Democrats 'stole' NY special election

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a contentious assertion devoid of evidence, Steve Bannon alleged that Democrats "stole" the recent New York special election. Bannon's claims surfaced during the February 14 episode of 'Real America's Voice's War Room,' where he adamantly proclaimed, "They stole this election in New York."

The special election, held in New York’s 3rd District to fill the vacant seat left by former GOP Rep George Santos, saw Democratic former Rep Tom Suozzi clinch victory over Republican Mazi Pilip.

Suozzi's win not only tipped the balance in the House, further narrowing the GOP's majority, but it also served as a potential blueprint for Democrats eyeing competitive districts in upcoming elections.

Allegations Against Marc Elias and Ballot Harvesting

According to Bannon, Marc Elias, a prominent attorney with ties to the Democratic Party, spearheaded an operation aimed at perfecting ballot harvesting, thereby facilitating the alleged theft.

“The central beating heart of this issue is their ability to steal an election. They stole this election in New York," Bannon said on Wednesday.

"The logistics and mechanics are, these guys are perfecting. The Marc Elias operation is perfecting the ballot harvesting, and the mail-in ballots are still there and they're stealing this. Like I said in 2020, they're stealing it by mail-in ballots and with these bad voter rolls and you can't get away from that," the right-wing commentator added.

In response, Elias took to X to address Bannon's accusations, wryly questioning, "Wait, now Bannon thinks I stole the NY special election?"

His post ignited a flurry of reactions, with many users ridiculing Bannon for his unsubstantiated claims.

"I think you stole his heart, Marc," one quipped.

"That’s the GOP theme song: if we won it’s legit. If they won, there was fraud. Yawn," another wrote.

"Boy, you’ve really done a number on Bannon," someone else added.

"Of course. A Republican lost an election, so somebody must have stolen it, and it might as well be you. I mean, you sue people who try to put their thumb on the scale for Republicans. You’re so unfair to them!" a comment read.

"They have to lie to cover the lie they lied about when lying about the lie where the lie was first lied about. Try to keep up," another added.

Factors Contributing to Suozzi's Victory and its Ramifications

While Suozzi's triumph may have been aided by favorable circumstances, including a winter storm that bolstered early Democratic votes, his victory underscored inherent advantages in name recognition and fundraising.

Furthermore, the district's political landscape has shifted, with Republicans making strides despite Biden's previous win in the area.

The aftermath of Santos' expulsion from Congress due to federal charges and alleged campaign fund misuse dealt a blow to the Nassau County GOP, which had previously enjoyed a string of victories, NBC News reported.

This setback for Republicans exacerbates their struggle to advance legislative agendas in the House, intensifying the pressure to compromise with Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., lauded Suozzi's win as a harbinger of further Republican losses, writing on X, "One down. Four to go."

Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee acknowledged the uphill battle Pilip faced. Despite Biden's previous lead in the district and the substantial Democratic financial backing, Republicans remain optimistic about their prospects in future elections.

“Joe Biden won this district by 8 points, Democrats outspent Republicans two-to-one, and our Democrat opponent spent decades representing these New Yorkers — yet it was still a dogfight. Republicans still have multiple pathways to grow our majority in November," NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson, R-NC, said in a statement.

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