Rep. George Santos Drawing Challengers To Long Island Seat
Written by on September 5, 2023
Rep. George Santos (R-NY3), the Long Island man who lied his way into the U.S. House of Representatives last fall before becoming a national laughingstock when his brazen misrepresentations about his family, his education, and his career were exposed, was indicted on 13 criminal charges earlier this year. The federal charges against Rep. Santos include money laundering, fraud, and theft; he also faces a House ethics investigation. Despite all this, Rep. Santos asserts that he is seeking re-election to Congress in 2024. Not surprisingly, members of both parties are jumping at the chance to unseat him.
According to City & State New York, seven Democrats, one Republican, and one independent have already lined up to challenge Rep. Santos in New York’s 3rd congressional district next fall. The seven Democrats are: Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafalzan, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination in 2022; former State Sen. Anna Kaplan, who came to the U.S. as a refugee and became the first Iranian-American to serve in the New York State Legislature; progressive activist Zak Malamed; Professor William Murphy of St. John’s University; former political staffer Steve Behar; Scott Livingston; and Darius Radzius. To date, Rep. Santos’s Democratic challengers have raised a total of more than $2 million in campaign donations.
Rep. Santos is also being challenged by independent Matt Nappo and Republican Kellen Curry. Curry is an Air Force veteran who reportedly served our nation for eight years in the war in Afghanistan; he is also a former vice president at JP Morgan.
