Despite facing a slew of legal challenges and the potential of expulsion from the House of Representatives, Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.) has declared his intention to run for reelection in 2024.
In an interview with CNNs Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju on Inside Politics Sunday, Santos confirmed his plans to seek another term, undeterred by the controversies surrounding him.
Santos, who has been accused of fabricating a significant portion of his personal history, is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The committee has stated that it will announce its next steps by November 17. In addition to this, Santos is also set to face a criminal trial on 23 federal counts in September 2024. Despite these challenges, Santos remains steadfast in his political ambitions.
In his interview with CNN, Santos emphasized that his constituents elected him not for his personal history, but for his commitment to improving their lives. "Nobody knew my biography," Santos stated. "People elected me because I said Id come here to fight the swamp, Id come here to lower inflation, create more jobs, make life more affordable, and the Commitment to America. Thats why people voted for anybody.
An attempt by fellow New York Republicans to expel Santos from the House fell short of the required two-thirds majority, with the final vote tallying at 179-213-19. Despite this setback, Santos remains confident in his ability to secure the nomination in the primary for the Biden-leaning district and win the general election to represent the 3rd Congressional District once more. "Theres no predetermined outcome," Santos asserted.
However, Santos' path to reelection is not without competition. Several candidates have already expressed their intention to challenge Santos for his seat, including his predecessor, former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.). Suozzi, who unsuccessfully ran for New York governor in 2022, has cleared the path for Santos to represent New Yorks 3rd congressional district.
Despite the mounting opposition and legal troubles, Santos remains undeterred, stating, Could I have won the general election last time? Nobody said I could. But I survived.
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