In this article, you will find information about Mazi Melissa Pilip, the current Republican candidate for George Santos’s seat in Long Island. You will learn about her background, military and political experience, political positions, and vision for the future.
Basic Information
Mazi Melissa Pilip was born in Ethiopia but fled to Israel when she was 12 years old during Operation Solomon, one of three Israeli operations that transported most of the Ethiopian Jewish population from the country during the rule of a military dictatorship, according to a report by the “Forward” in 2021.
Pilip served in the Israeli Defense Forces, where she was in the Paratroopers Brigade, before immigrating to the United States in 2005.
Pilip was first elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021, where her campaign focused on stopping new tax increases, increasing police patrols, and halting the construction of new high-rise apartment buildings in her area of suburban Long Island, including Great Neck and Mineola.
Pilip won the 2021 election and was reelected again in 2023; however, records revealed by “Politico” show that she did not change her party affiliation after registering as a Democrat in 2012.
Since the Hamas massacre on October 7 and the kidnappings in southern Israel, Pilip has also emerged as a prominent supporter of Israel, calling for the return of hostages and condemning antisemitism on campus.
Pilip has not released a platform or spoken extensively about her views since being selected as the Republican candidate, but she told the “New York Post” that she is “very excited” about running in February and stated that she is “very confident that we have a big win” ahead.
What to Watch For
Since then, Democrats have nominated former Congressman Tom Suozzi to run again in the special election to replace Santos. Pilip will face him in the vote scheduled for February 13.
Main Background
George Santos was expelled from Congress earlier this month after federal prosecutors brought 23 criminal charges against him, including charges of defrauding donors, and the House Ethics Committee confirmed that he “clearly stole from his campaign.” He was previously elected in 2022 to represent New York’s Third Congressional District, which contains northern Nassau County and parts of western Queens. Santos first ran for the seat in 2020, losing to current Congressman Suozzi in a traditionally Democratic suburban New York City district. Suozzi retired from Congress in 2022 to run for Governor of New York, but lost to current Governor Kathy Hochul. Santos ran again in 2022, winning a surprise victory in a district that Biden won in 2020.
Surprising Fact
Pilip’s nomination process was conducted behind closed doors within the Nassau County Republican Party. Local Republicans held 20 interviews with potential candidates with the help of three outside firms, and “Politico” reported that the party called Pilip a “effective tax fighter who will prioritize public safety and economic recovery, border security, and tax relief in Congress.” She is expected to announce her candidacy in a press conference on Friday.
For more information:
Here are the crimes George Santos is accused of and the penalties he may face
Former Congressman George Santos is negotiating a deal with prosecutors, according to the lawsuit
Ohio Congressman says George Santos’s campaign accused him of fraudulent credit card charges
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