Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) announced Thursday that he will run for Congress again, this time challenging Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.).
Santos was expelled from his Long Island congressional seat in December over allegations of fraud. He was replaced in Congress last month by Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.) after a special election as he faces more than 20 criminal charges related to his alleged conduct.
His surprise announcement came during President Biden’s State of the Union address. Santos attended the speech, his first time back in the Capitol since his expulsion.
“New York hasn’t had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like Nick LaLota,” Santos said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “He is a willing to risk the future of our majority and the future of this country for his own political gain.”
“Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over NY-1,” he continued. “I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country.”
Santos and LaLota have butted heads for months. In November, a day before he was expelled from Congress, Santos called the fellow New York Republican a “meathead.”
“I don't like Nick LaLota. And I'm not alone,” he said. “His district has people who don't like him. If it weren't for the GOP infrastructure, he wouldn't be a member of Congress, because the people themselves do not like the man.”
“If he faces a true challenger, well funded, one person without a spoiler candidate, he might not win,” Santos continued. “He's not well-liked. He's an arrogant person. He's not a nice guy. He's cocky. He's a traditional meathead, somebody that's not nice to you for no reason.”
The New York primary election is June 25. LaLota faces no other Republican opposition.
The Hill has reached out to LaLota for comment.
Mychael Schnell contributed.
