NEW YORK — New York’s Nassau County Republican leadership asked Congressman George Santos to resign from Congress, saying he was “disgraced” and needed to step aside.
Santos represents New York’s 3rd District, which includes most of the county, and Wednesday’s call from his own party leaders is the strongest yet.
In recent weeks, Santos has admitted to lying about his education, work experience and investments, and faces an even longer list of alleged fabrications of his life that he has yet to acknowledge or refute.
Republican donors say they were “tricked” by Santos; Democrats have already filed ethics complaints against him.
Despite calls from both political parties for the Long Island representative to resign, the rookie Republican congressman has refused even after admitting to various lies about his education, employment and family background.
What would happen if he quit?
In case Santos changes course and decides to resign, this is what would happen to his position:
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul would have to declare a special election within 10 days of the vacancy (unless Santos resigns after July 1, 2024, then there is no special election, under state law). That special election would have to take place 70 to 80 days after Hochul issues a special election proclamation.
According to state law:
“…the governor shall, unless otherwise authorized by local law, resolution, or ordinance, make a proclamation of a special election to fill said office within ten days of the occurrence of a vacancy, specifying the district or county in which the election will be held, and the day of the same, which will be: a. not less than seventy nor more than eighty days from the date of the proclamation to fill a vacancy in the office of representative in congress or for a vacancy
in any office other than in the state senate or assembly.”
It would probably be a hotly contested political race. Santos is one of 18 Republicans representing districts that President Biden would have chosen if the new congressional map had been in effect in 2020. Santos won his first term in November by just 8 percentage points.
