Political analysts rate the district, stretching from the outskirts of New York City into the heart of Nassau County’s affluent suburbs on Long Island, as a tossup. Democratic strategists said they would continue to use the embarrassment of Mr. Santos to attack Republicans, blaming them for aiding the former congressman’s rise. But recapturing the seat may be more difficult than many Democrats once hoped. Local Republicans moved decisively to distance themselves from Mr. Santos last January, and the strategy has shown signs of working. When Long Island voters went to the polls for local contests last month, they delivered a Republican rout that left Democrats scrambling to figure out how to rehabilitate a tarnished political brand.

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Persons: Mike Sapraicone, Mazi, Biden, Mr, Santos, ”, Isaac Goldberg Organizations: Republican, New York Police Department, Israel Defense Forces, Democratic, Local Republicans, Long, Mr Locations: Ethiopian, New York City, Nassau County’s, Long