Disgraced former Rep. George Santos announced on Tuesday that he is suspending his long shot campaign to represent New York’s 1st Congressional District. Santos expressed concern that his challenge to incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota would likely result in a Democrat winning the seat in the November election.
“I want to clarify that my decision to run is not motivated by any personal vendetta against Nick Lalota. While Nick and I may have differing voting records and I strongly disagree with his track record, I do not wish to divide the ticket and inadvertently help the Democrats gain control of the house,” explained Santos. He further added, “As I have stated before, I am changing my party affiliation from Republican to independent.” Santos made these remarks in a statement released on X.
LaLota has not shown much respect for Santos, often belittling him and criticizing his character. He has referred to Santos as an “embarrassment” and even described him as “one of the most bizarre people I have ever met.” Despite these dismissive comments, LaLota has acknowledged the seriousness of Santos’ challenge and has expressed his intention to take the race seriously.
Santos faced a historic vote in early December, resulting in his removal from the House. LaLota played a significant role in leading an internal campaign against him. Santos has pleaded not guilty to various charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
During his tenure in office, the former congressman’s reputation was tarnished by scandal surrounding his personal history. He was forced to admit to fabricating or distorting certain aspects of his background, although he maintained that some of these discrepancies were merely embellishments commonly found on resumes.
Santos hinted on Tuesday that his political ambitions are far from over, despite this setback. Moreover, his presence as a digital content creator on Cameo, where he sells personalized videos, continues to thrive.
“I’ve had meetings with leaders and constituents, and I’ve decided to end my pursuit of this race for the year,” he stated.
“The future is filled with endless possibilities, and I am prepared, eager, and capable of stepping up to the challenge to defend my country whenever the need arises,” he expressed. “I will continue to actively engage in public policy discussions and fulfill my role… I will always strive to align myself with the right side of history. This is only a temporary goodbye; I will return,” he added.
