What to know
- Little-known Nassau County legislator and former Israeli paratrooper Mazi Pilip will face former Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi in a special election on February 13 for the seat previously held by George Santos.
- The selection pits Pilip, a relatively unknown local lawmaker originally from Ethiopia, against a political veteran in Suozzi, who previously represented the district for six years during a long career in Long Island politics.
- It was reported last week that Pilip is a registered Democrat, although she holds her current position as a Republican and has been endorsed by Republicans when she ran for county office.
NEW YORK — Republicans have chosen a little-known county lawmaker who once served in the Israeli military as their candidate in a special election to replace ousted New York Congressman George Santos, party officials said Thursday.
Nassau County legislator and former Israeli paratrooper Mazi Pilip will face former Democratic congressman Tom Suozzi in a special election on Feb. 13 for the seat, which includes parts of northern Queens and Long Island.
The selection pits Pilip, a relatively unknown local lawmaker originally from Ethiopia, against a political veteran in Suozzi, who previously represented the district for six years during a long career in Long Island politics.
In a statement, Queens and Nassau County Republicans vaguely outlined some of his possible policy positions and said he would bring a new perspective to the House.
“Pilip is an effective fiscal fighter who will prioritize public safety, economic recovery, border security, and tax relief in Congress,” the statement said. “She will bring a new perspective to Washington, contrasting her sharply with the candidate of the other major political party.”
The party will hold a formal announcement ceremony for Pilip on Friday. She did not immediately respond to a message left at her office.
The election is expected to draw a lot of attention as both parties focus on New York as a potential battleground for control of the House.
Republicans chose Pilip after vetting several potential candidates following Santos’ expulsion from Congress earlier this month for fabricating much of his life story and being criminally charged with defrauding donors.
The selection process appeared to slow down after the media began digging into the personal and professional histories of potential candidates, revealing damaging information that could become public during a campaign.
Politico reported last week that Pilip is a registered Democrat, although she holds her current position as a Republican and has been endorsed by Republicans when she ran for county office. The arrangement is not entirely uncommon in states that have closed primaries, where so-called crossover voters who identify with one party register under another in order to vote in primary elections.
Suozzi was picked by Democrats last week after emerging as the party’s favorite for the nomination. His extensive political experience could be a big advantage when it comes to name recognition and fundraising for the special election.
Suozzi, a centrist Democrat, was elected to the House in 2016 and won re-election in 2020, before leaving to launch the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign. He was also mayor of Glen Cove from 1994 to 2001 and elected executive of Nassau County from 2002 to 2009.
2023-12-15 04:06:54
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