The Republican Party of New York has put forward Nassau County legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip as their nominee for the special election in the state’s 3rd Congressional District. This election is to fill the seat left vacant by the recent expulsion of GOP Rep. George Santos. Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Israeli immigrant who served in the Israel Defense Forces, will be running against former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, the Democratic nominee.
Mazi Melesa Pilip: A Contrast to Career Politicians
Richard Hudson, the North Carolina Representative and chair of the House GOP campaign arm, praised Pilip’s nomination. He stated, “Mazi’s incredible life stands in stark contrast to career politician Tom Suozzi.” Hudson believes that Pilip’s presence in Congress will provide Long Islanders with a representative who opposes the extreme Hochul-Suozzi agenda, which he claims makes New York less safe and more expensive.
Special Election Scheduled for February 13
The special election, scheduled by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, will take place on February 13. According to the state’s special election rules, the nominees are chosen by the county party leaders in the district. The race to fill Santos’ seat will be of particular importance next year, considering the Republicans’ slim majority in the House. This majority is set to decrease temporarily with the departure of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the end of this year.
3rd District Race: A Bellwether for the 2024 General Election
The 3rd District race, which includes parts of Nassau and Queens counties, is being viewed as a key indicator for the November 2024 general election. Santos, the former representative of this district, was recently expelled from Congress following an Ethics Committee report. The report concluded that Santos had exploited his House candidacy for personal financial gain. He has also pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misuse of campaign funds, and false statements about his personal finances on House disclosure reports.
Mazi Melesa Pilip: A Newcomer in Politics
Pilip’s political career is relatively new. She was first elected to the Nassau County legislature in 2021 and was reelected last month. Despite being elected on the Republican line, Pilip is a registered Democrat, as reported by The New York Times. The Nassau County Republican Party and New York GOP Chairman Ed Cox have yet to comment on this.
Republican Jewish Coalition Endorses Pilip
The Republican Jewish Coalition, the largest GOP-aligned Jewish political organization, endorsed Pilip’s candidacy on Thursday. Matt Brooks, the coalition’s CEO, stated, “Winning this battleground seat is critical to maintaining the GOP majority in the House of Representatives, and as antisemitism continues to spike across the country, electing candidates like Mazi Pilip is more important than ever.”
Uncertainty Over District Boundaries
The current boundaries of the 3rd District are under review after New York’s highest court ordered the state to redraw its congressional district lines earlier this week. However, the special election in February will be held under the district’s current boundaries. Democrats are hoping that the backlash from Santos’ numerous scandals will hinder the recent Republican momentum in the area.
Democrats Criticize Pilip
Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene, who chairs House Democrats’ campaign arm, criticized Pilip, referring to her as “serial fraudster George Santos’ close friend” and a “MAGA extremist.” Despite these criticisms, the GOP has made gains in elections on Long Island since the 2020 election, largely due to concerns about crime, immigration, and inflation, including the high cost of housing.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Elizabeth Hartfield, Jack Forrest, Gregory Krieg, and Renée Rigdon.