New York Democrats are reacting to the House vote Friday to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) over ethics violations in a historic move that has not occurred since 2002.
In a final vote of 311-114, 105 Republicans sided with nearly all Democrats, with two Democrats voting no and two voting present. The vote followed a scathing House Ethics Committee investigation, which detailed “overwhelming evidence” in a 56-page report that Santos engaged in "fraud" and other misconduct. Santos is now the sixth lawmaker ever to be kicked out of Congress and will immediately be stripped of his House position.
GEORGE SANTOS EXPELLED FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Following the ousting, New York Democrats applauded the removal of Santos as the search is on for a new candidate to fill New York’s 3rd Congressional District seat in a special election.
The chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, Jay Jacobs, said he will work with state lawmakers and the governor to nominate the “most qualified candidate with the best chance of success” to the state’s 3rd Congressional District seat.
"With today’s House vote to finally expel George Santos from its body, this ends a sorry chapter in the history of our county and our country,” Jacobs said in a press release. “His loss is a huge win for decency, honesty, and the rule of law.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has 10 days to announce the date of a special election to replace Santos. While multiple candidates have already announced a bid for 2024, local leaders for both parties will nominate one candidate to run for the special election to finish out the remainder of Santos’s term, with Democrats hoping to flip the seat.
I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York’s 3rd District.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 1, 2023
The people of Long Island deserve nothing less.
“I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York’s 3rd District,” Hochul posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the vote.
Before the House convened for the 118th Congress, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) and multiple other lawmakers expressed concerns about Santos lying about his background and campaign finances, later telling former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) they are causes for resignation and should prevent him from serving on committees.
Before this Congress even started, I called for George Santos not to be seated. And while today I voted (again) to expel him, the stain of his dishonor will remain.
— Pat Ryan ???????? (@PatRyanUC) December 1, 2023
MAGA leadership knew Santos was a serial liar who courted neo-nazis and conspiracy theorists, yet, they have…
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Following the vote, Ryan called out MAGA Republicans for knowing “Santos was a serial liar who courted neo-nazis and conspiracy theorists” but “spent the last ten months failing to protect the American people and denying the residents of New York’s 3rd Congressional District the responsible representation they deserve.”
“They stuck by his disgusting behavior, all for the sake of power. It’s everything that is wrong with Washington and everything I’ve spent my life fighting against,” Ryan posted on X.