Now that House Representative George Santos has been ousted, deliberations and discussions are underway in the GOP to find his replacement.
After a secret meeting in New York’s third congressional district this past Thursday, the Republicans believe that the new candidate Maza Melesa Pilip, could be an up-and-coming contender, despite her limited experience in politics.
Pilip, a local legislator originally from Ethiopia, who also served in the Israeli Defense Forces, was included in the private meeting last night as a candidate for the open seat. As of now, she seems to have the favor of the Long Island Republican caucus, in addition to sponsorship from a former Long Island representative and 2016 GOP presidential candidate, Peter King, who has been accused of spreading Islamophobic rhetoric several times in the past.
King told The New York Times that Pilip “is the American success story”, claiming “some people have superstar capacity. She walks into the room, people notice her, they listen to her.
To some, Pilip may come across as an unlikely candidate, as she is a mother of 7 who first ran for office only two years ago. The Times reported that she has little experience with fundraising and has not yet formed close relationships within the national party. She also has yet to garner a strong political stance as she hasn’t spoken about her position on issues such as abortion rights, gun laws, and Donald Trump’s indictments and trials; all pressing topics in the current political climate.
These factors present Pilip as a surprising choice for the Republican candidate while the Democrats are allegedly projected to have a strong chance of getting the house seat, as the district voted for Joe Biden in 2020 despite its 18 Republican representatives at the time which included Santos.
There is still the question of whether voters in the Queens-Nassau County district are veering toward or away from the GOP, especially after the local Republican officials kept Santos through inauguration even after there were reports that he had fabricated a fraudulent personal and political history and accolades, a deceit that eventually resulted in his expulsion—only the third one in U.S. history since the Civil War.
Pilip will be up against the Democrat’s choice Tom Suozzi, a former representative of the district who just left his spot this year but who anticipates returning in November of 2024. The special election will take place on February 13th.
