Former embattled congressman George Santos announced Tuesday he has officially withdrawn his independent candidacy for Congress. Santos intended to challenge Republican New York Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s 1st Congressional district on Long Island but announced his withdrawal via Twitter, stating that he wanted to avoid a split ticket and potentially handing the election to the Democrats.
Santos emphasized his concerns about the rise of antisemitism in the country and the need to prevent the Democrats from gaining control of the House of Representatives, due to their alleged tolerance of antisemitic views within their ranks. He had previously announced his challenge against LaLota in March, aiming to fight for the Republican majority.
Despite facing numerous controversies and indictments, Santos has refused to resign from his congressional seat. Earlier this year, he was expelled from the House in a 311-114 vote following a damning House ethics report that accused him of attempting to fraudulently exploit his candidacy for personal financial gain. Santos maintains his innocence and awaits trial.
Santos’s decision to withdraw his independent candidacy highlights the complex political landscape and the challenges faced by candidates in the face of controversy and legal challenges.
