Former GOP Rep. George Santos said Friday that he plans to run as an independent in New York’s 1st District this year.
“I am officially suspending my application to get on the ballot as a Republican in #NY01 and will file to run as an Independent” Santos wrote in X.
He cited “today’s disgraceful performance in the House of Representatives” as the reason for running as an independent. The Republican-led House earlier on Friday Voted to pass the $1.2 trillion spending bill hours before the government shutdown.
Santos was previously elected and sworn in to serve in New York’s 3rd District, but he kicked out among federal criminal charges in December.
Santos was first charged in May with 13 counts, including wire fraud and money laundering. In October, Santos was hit with a 23-count indictment. He has pladed not guilty to all charges.
56 pages of Home before his expulsion Report of the Ethics Committee concluded that there was “substantial evidence” that Santos had “violated federal criminal laws,” including using campaign funds for personal purposes and filing false campaign reports.
In a letter to House colleagues ahead of the vote, Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, He claimed that Santos had personally cheated on him and his mother.
In a February special election, Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazie Philip to succeed Santos in the Long Island district.
Santos announced this earlier this month He would run as a Republican In New York’s 1st District, he will face GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, one of the Republicans who voted to oust Santos, in a primary.
To appear on the ballot as an independent, Santos will need to collect and submit 3,500 petition signatures from voters in the region. He can begin collecting those signatures on April 16 and has until May 28 to submit them to the Suffolk County Board of Elections, according to the state board of elections.
Kyle Stewart contributed.