Expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., will run against a fellow New York Republican in a House primary, he announced during Thursday night’s State of the Union address, just months after he was criminally indicted and later ousted from the House amid fraud allegations.
George Santos sits with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., ahead of announcing another run for Congress.
Santos, who attended President Joe Biden’s State of the Union, tweeted he will challenge Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., who represents a House seat on Long Island.
The expelled lawmaker claimed “New York hasn’t had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits” like LaLota, who voted in favor of expelling Santos in December.
Santos told Semafor he will file with the Federal Election Commission on Friday and later move to LaLota’s district, which is east of the one Santos previously represented.
New York’s congressional primaries are scheduled for June 25.
“I look forward to debating [LaLota] on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican,” Santos tweeted.
LaLota staunchly supported expelling Santos last year, saying in an October statement he “deserves to be in prison, not in Congress.”