POLITICS
New York Republicans Tap Mazi Melesa Pilip For Special Election To Replace George Santos
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New York Republicans have selected Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip as their nominee for the special election to replace former Rep. George Santos, who was expelled earlier this month.
Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Israeli-American who served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, will face Democratic former Rep. Tom Suozzi in the special election on Feb. 13, 2024.
“Mazi Pilip is a formidable candidate with a unique biography: a former IDF paratrooper and mother of seven,” Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. “Mazis incredible life stands in stark contrast to career politician Tom Suozzi, who uses his office to make life better for himself instead of his community.”
Santos was expelled by a vote 311–114 after a report from the House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence of campaign fraud. Santos previously survived two expulsion votes, but the Ethics Committee released the results of its months-long investigation last month, detailing substantial evidence Santos violated federal criminal laws, including using campaign funds on OnlyFans, Botox and luxury goods.
Santos is already facing a variety of federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives. He has pleaded not guilty.
Suozzi previously represented New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Queens and Long Island, before vacating the seat to mount an unsuccessful run for governor. The district flipped to Santos, a Republican, in a surprise upset.
Nassau County and Queens County Democratic leaders were widely expected to pick Suozzi, who already announced in October that he was running to unseat Santos.
The race is expected to be competitive despite the fact that Pilip is a political newcomer, entering elected office for the first time in 2021. Suozzi, meanwhile, has been a political player in the area for decades, first as a four-term mayor of Glen Cove then as the first Democrat elected Nassau County Executive before entering Congress.
TMX contributed to this article.
