Nassau County GOP Nominates County Legislator and IDF Veteran to Run for Santos’ Seat
Summary from the AllSides News Team
New York Republicans have nominated Mazi Melesa Pilip to run in the February 13 special election for the House seat vacated by former Rep. George Santos.
The Details: Pilip, who was born in Ethiopia, is a Nassau County legislator and veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces who immigrated to the U.S. in 2005. She will run against the Democratic nominee, former Rep. Tom Suozzi. Pilip has been a registered Democrat since 2012 but won Nassau County Legislature elections as a Republican in 2021 and 2023.
For Context: Santos was expelled in a historic vote on December 1 after an ethics report said he had lied to voters, stolen from his campaign, and brok federal law.
How The Media Covered It: Politico (Lean Left bias) uncovered the records that show Pilip is a registered Democrat and said the upcoming race “is considered a toss-up… crucial in determining which party controls the House in 2025.” New York Post (Lean Right bias) included a perspective from Nassau County GOP chairman Joe Cairo, who noted that they extensively vetted candidates. Cairo said, “Mazi is so squeaky clean. Whether she’s a Republican or a Democrat makes no difference.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
New York Republicans pick Mazi Melesa Pilip to succeed George Santos
New York Republicans have nominated Mazi Melesa Pilip as their candidate to run in the special election for the Long Island seat vacated by George Santos.
The GOP pick for the Feb. 13 race will hold a news conference Friday in Massapequa in Nassau County. The party’s choice comes after an intensive vetting process by local leaders determined to redeem themselves after supporting Santos, the ousted congressman indicted on criminal fraud charges.
New York Democrats have chosen former Rep. Tom Suozzi, who had represented the 3rd Congressional District, to run in the...
From the Center
Who Is Mazi Melesa Pilip? What To Know About The Long Island GOP’s Candidate For George Santos’ Seat.
New York Republicans tapped Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Israeli military veteran currently serving in the Nassau County Legislature, to run for George Santos’ former House seat in a special election after his expulsion earlier this month.
Pilip was born in Ethiopia, but fled to Israel at age 12 during Operation Solomon, one of three Israeli operations that airlifted most of Ethiopia’s large Jewish population out of the country during a military dictatorship, the Forward reported in 2021.
She served in the Israeli Defense Forces, where she was in the Paratroopers Brigade,...
From the Right
Republicans tap ex-Israeli paratrooper Mazi Pilip for George Santos seat
Long Island and Queens Republicans will nominate Nassau County legislator Mazi Pilip — — a former Israeli paratrooper and native of Ethiopia — to run as its candidate to replace the expelled George Santos in the House of Representatives, GOP officials confirmed Thursday.
A formal announcement of Pilip’s candidacy will take place Friday in Massapequa.
The special election for the vacant seat of the Third Congressional District — which takes in much of Nassau County and parts of eastern Queens — will be held Feb. 13 .
Pilip, who resides in Great Neck, will...
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