GOP expected to nominate former IDF soldier to fill George Santos' vacated House seat: officials
NASSAU COUNTY, Long Island (WABC) -- Republicans are expected to soon announce they are running Mazi Melesa Pilip in next February's NY-3 special election to fill the seat left vacant by George Santos.
Pilip is a largely unknown Nassau County legislator who is an Ethiopian Jew and served in the IDF.
Pilip is a registered Democrat and has no plans on changing her party affiliation, a spokesperson for Nassau Republicans says. She is running on both the Republican and Conservative lines in the special election.
Nassau Republicans have supported Pilip twice in elections for a Nassau County Legislature seat, fully aware that she maintained her Democratic registration. They call it "irrelevant."
"We endorse the best candidate, we don't endorse on political registration," a spokesperson for Nassau County Republican Party said.
Pilip has previously said that her party affiliation has not mattered, as most of her work as county legislator has been nonpartisan or local in scope.
She will challenge Tom Suozzi, well-known in his district, where he is seeking to retake his seat.
Suozzi previously held the Congressional seat for six years.
The 44-year-old Pilip is a mother of seven from Great Neck, currently serving in the Nassau Legislature.
Republicans considered more than 20 candidates.
A formal announcement is expected Friday in Massapequa.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for the special election to happen on Feb. 13.
The Eyewitness News Mornings @ 10 team discusses the special election:
RELATED | Democratic party nominates Tom Suozzi to fill George Santos' vacated House seat
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