George Santos: The imposter in Congress | On The Ground
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A high-stakes special election in disgraced ex-congressman George Santos’ district has been disrupted by a blizzard that blanketed Long Island in snow on Tuesday.
Republican newcomer Mazi Pilip is up against Tom Suozzi in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, in a race that will reverberate well beyond Nassau County.
Voters turning out on Tuesday had to contend with up to six inches of snow and strong winds, and both candidates offered free rides to the polls.
By mid-afternoon just over 33,000 people had voted in Nassau County, according to figures from the NYV Board of Elections.
Roughly 12,000 were registered Republicans, 11,500 Democrats, and 6,700 independents.
Mr Suozzi had a sizable pre-election day lead from mail in and early voting.
The by-election has taken on added significance due to Republicans’ slim majority in the House of Representatives and is shaping up as a bellwether for how both parties are faring ahead of the 2024 general election.
The seat is up for grabs after Mr Santos was expelled from Congress in December last year when he was exposed as a serial fabulist. He has been and charged with felony fraud and dishonesty offences.
1707866158Watch: The imposter in CongressVoters in New York’s 3rd Congressional district will choose George Santos’ replacement in Tuesday’s special election.
Prior to his ouster from Congress in December, my colleague Richard Hall ventured deep into Santos’ district to gauge voter reaction to the scandal-plagued former Congressman.
The imposter in Congress | On The GroundGeorge Santos made waves on the political scene of Washington D.C. by flipping New York’s 3rd congressional district seat in the November midterms, a once reliable Democratic seat. But, soon, reports emerged that many things in his résumé and the life story told to the public wasn’t all strictly true. Santos is refusing to stand aside as the controversy mounts but how long can that position hold? Senior US Correspondent Richard Hall visited Long Island and Nassau county to find out the truth, trying to track down the real George Santos. Watch all episodes of On The Ground now.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 23:15
1707864658Candidates in final push to get voters to the pollsIn a series of Facebook live videos, Democrat Tom Suozzi has been imploring his supporters to head to the polls in a sign of just how close the race for New York’s 3rd district is likely to be.
With heavy snow falling across the district during the morning, voter turnout in the race to replace George Santos has been very low, according to figures released by NYC’s Board of Elections.
Figures from polling booths in Queens and Nassau County show that turnout began picking up from mid-afternoon as roads were cleared of snow.
His Republican opponent Mazi Pilip has also been making a last-ditch plea to supporters to head to polling stations.
She posted a photo to X with two of her sisters who have flown in from Israel for election day.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 22:50
1707863458George Santos and the fascinating psychology of compulsive liarsAnyone who’s taken a passing look at the news lately knows about the short, ill-fated political career of George Santos. Charged with crimes ranging from false statements to fraud, the former golden boy of the Republican Party was ousted by his own colleagues in December. How did it all go so wrong?
Holly Baxter writes:
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 22:30
1707861260Votes trickling in after snowstorm disrupts New York special election The roads in New York’s 3rd district have largely been cleared of snow, and voter turnout is finally starting to pick up after this morning’s blizzard.
Michael Pruser, an elections analyst, wrote that by mid-afternoon just over 33,000 people had voted in Nassau County, and around 6,000 had cast a ballot in Queens.
Of the Nassau voters, roughly 12,000 were registered Republicans, 11,500 Democrats, and 6,700 independents.
Mr Suozzi had a sizable pre-election day lead from mail in and early voting.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 21:54
1707859858Tribal divisions trump George Santos scandals in knife-edge New York special electionTuesday’s by-election in New York’s 3rd Congressional to replace the scandal-plagued, federally indicted former Congressman George Santos has largely turned into a national referendum on immigration, abortion, Donald Trump and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Democratic veteran Tom Suozzi, 61, and the GOP’s Mazi Pilip have spent around $20m on negative adverts that have bombarded local news channels and sportscasts, and even ran during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 21:30
1707858058The snow has stopped and the roads are clear in NY-03The roads around New York’s 3rd Congressional district have been largely cleared of snow and both campaigns are making a final pitch for voters to get to the polls.
Mr Suozzi posted a video at about 2.30pm encouraging voters to head out to the polls before they close at 9pm.
“There’s too much at stake in this election to stay home,” Ms Pilip’s campaign wrote in a post on X.
The candidates have been offering free rides to voters to make it to one of the dozens of local polling stations.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 21:00
1707856284Suozzi to hold 3.30pm press conference to address low voter turnoutTom Suozzi’s campaign have just announced they are holding a 3.30pm press conference to address low voter turnout from the heavy snowfall.
We’ll be bringing updates from the press conference.
Polls will close at 9pm and results are expected to roll in shortly after.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 20:31
1707854408Voters battling the elements to get to the polls in NY03Voters in New York’s 3rd Congressional district have been battling the elements to get to the polls in today’s special election.
Parts of Long Island have seen up to six inches of snow on Tuesday, and city officials warned against making all but essential travel.
Both candidates have been offering their voters rides to polling stations.
You can follow live updates on The Independent’s blog here. Here are some images of the blizzard from around New York City.
People walk through the blowing snow in Manhattan on 13 February 2024 in New York City
(Getty Images)
People walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in the blowing snow in Manhattan as a large winter storm makes its way across the area on 13 February 2024
(Getty Images)
A child plays in the snow in Central Park in New York City on 13 February 13 2024
(AFP via Getty Images)
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 20:00
1707852658Suozzi hammers Pilip over border security in election eve interviewTom Suozzi used his final interview before today’s special election to go after Mazi Pilip over her opposition to a bipartisan border security bill.
Mr Suzzi told CNN’s Erin Burnett that voters were crying out for both parties to work together to solve the important issued facing the United States.
“By not supporting that deal, you’re keeping the border open and bringing more migrants to New York… People are sick of that. People want us working together.”
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 19:30
1707850858Is New York’s special election really a bellwether for November?New York’s 3rd Congressional district is the fourth richest in the country, and comprises many wealthy hamlets across northern Long Island.
Political observers have stated that Tuesday’s special election could provide clues to how suburban voters might go for in November’s general election.
But not everyone is convinced that NY03 will have broader implications beyond Long Island.
“My sense is that there are a number of candidate-specific issues and some local context that would make this a tough case from which to conclude much about national trends, despite the fact that congressional elections have become more ‘national’ in recent years,” Syracuse University political science professor Grant Reeher told The Independent in a statement.
“Among those candidate and local issues are the fact that Suozzi is a very well-known figure, and has a record as a county executive, and further, has staked out a more moderate place within the Democratic Party.
“And then, as you note, there’s the Republican baggage of Santos. The 2022 Democratic congressional candidates were weighed down by an association with the governor and the state Democratic Party, and concerns about crime and safety — whether that carries through to this election is another factor. So there are a lot of moving parts beyond general national party politics,” he said.
Bevan Hurley13 February 2024 19:00
