Expelled former Rep. George Santos ends his independent bid for Congress
Former New York Rep. George Santos announced Tuesday that he was ending his independent campaign for a seat in Congress.
Former New York Rep. George Santos announced Tuesday that he was ending his independent campaign for a seat in Congress.
Santos, a Republican who was expelled from the House late last year, had said last month that he was running for New York’s First Congressional District as an independent.
"I have decided to withdraw from my independent run for #NY1," Santos said in a statement on X, adding he was concerned that his candidacy could split the vote with GOP Rep. Nick LaLota and deliver the seat to Democrats.
LaLota is one of the Republicans who voted to expel Santos in December amid federal criminal charges. Santos has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges, and is scheduled to stand trial in September.
Santos, who represented New York's 3rd District before he was removed from Congress, initially declared in March that he was running as a Republican, arguing that “New York hasn’t had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like [LaLota].”
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