Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Jack Martins to become the next representative of the 3rd Congressional District.

"These are very tough times we're facing in our country," Suozzi told News 12 shortly after declaring victory. "We have to try and get Democrats and Republicans, people of goodwill, to actually come together and work with each other to try and solve these same problems that we've been facing for the past 30 years."

The 3rd District encompasses most of the Island's North Shore, all the way to Queens. The seat became up for grabs when Rep. Steve Israel announced he would not seek re-election.

The win marks a political comeback for Suozzi, the former Nassau County executive who was unseated by Ed Mangano in 2009.

After losing his job as executive to Mangano, Suozzi lost in another run for the job in 2013. He also ran unsuccessfully for governor against Eliot Spitzer in a 2006 Democratic primary.

Martins, a three-term state senator and the former Mineola mayor, conceded the election shortly after midnight.