Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) announced his decision to suspend his independent House bid on Tuesday, just over a month after initially entering the race. Taking to the social platform X, Santos conveyed his decision, citing discussions with leaders and constituents as influencing factors.
In early March, Santos made headlines with a surprise appearance at President Biden’s State of the Union address, during which he declared his candidacy. However, despite the initial announcement, his campaign committee failed to raise any funds in March, as per Federal Election Commission filings.
Former Congressman George Santos (Credits: People)
Later in the same month, Santos revealed his intention to run as an independent against Rep. Nick LaLota (R) in New York’s 1st Congressional District. Santos and LaLota have a history of conflict, with Santos criticizing LaLota’s performance while expressing concerns about potentially dividing the Republican vote in the upcoming election.
Acknowledging the risk of inadvertently aiding Democratic victory by remaining in the race, Santos opted to withdraw, stating that his continued candidacy would likely result in such an outcome.
Santos’s tumultuous political journey includes being the sixth lawmaker in history to be expelled from the House late last year. His expulsion followed a damning report from the House Ethics Committee, which found him guilty of violating federal criminal laws.
George Santos (Credits: People)
Facing a federal indictment on multiple charges, including wire fraud and identity theft, Santos maintains his innocence but acknowledges the chaos his actions brought to the House Republican caucus.
Despite his current setback, Santos remains open to future political endeavors, expressing readiness to serve his country whenever the opportunity arises. He emphasized his commitment to engaging in public policy discussions and striving to align with the right side of history.
In a noticeable turn, following his expulsion from Congress, Santos gained attention for monetizing his online presence, selling personalized videos on Cameo. While bidding farewell to his current political aspirations, Santos hints at a potential return, signing off with a promise: “It’s only goodbye for now, I’ll be back.”
