Representative George Santos announces his run for reelection for Congress

April Fools’ Day was on the first of this month, and that would have been a more appropriate date to announce his re-election campaign.”

Jay Jacobs, state and Nassau County Democratic chairman

The best place to find out what Congressman George Santos is doing or saying is on Twitter, which is where he announced on Monday he would run for reelection. The declaration was not surprising because the embattled congressman had submitted his statement of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission in March. Even so, the announcement led immediately to outrage from elected leaders from both sides of the aisle. No one seemed to be happy about

Santos’ attempt to extend his representation of the 3rd Congressional District in 2024, except perhaps the New York Young Republican Club who tweeted their support on Monday.

Santos seems to be experiencing a disconnect when it comes to support among his constituents. According to a Newsday–Siena College poll released at the end of January, among the 653 registered voters who live in the 3rd Congressional District, 78 percent believed the Republican should resign. Eighty-nine percent of Democrats and 72 percent of independents agreed as did 71 percent of Republicans.

Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck said Santos will not receive any support from her or anyone in the Nassau County Republican Party.

“We asked him to step down and he ignored us,” Panzenbeck said. “He’s delusional. And he seems to love the attention, good or bad.”

The New York State Conservative Party’s chairman, Gerard Kassar, was one of the first to condemn Santos’ reelection bid.

"Under no circumstances will Congressman George Santos receive the Conservative Party line in his reelection run,” Kassar said in a statement. “The party has called for his resignation and finds his pattern of deceit morally repugnant. We continue to hope that Mr. Santos will choose the redemptive path by relinquishing his seat."

Shortly after Santos was elected, it was found that he was not by any means the candidate voters thought he was. Lies were uncovered regarding his education, employment, career, housing and religion, drawing much ire.

The House Ethics Committee began an investigation on Santos in early March to determine if he violated campaign finance laws, fiscal disclosure, conflict of interest and sexual misconduct.

Multiple other investigations were already being conducted by the Federal Election Commission, the Office of Congressional Ethics, the New York State attorney general, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn as well as on Long Island, by the Nassau and Queens county district attorneys.

During a January news conference where Nassau Republicans demanded Santos resign, GOP Chair Joseph Cairo shared his lack of support. “We will not nominate George Santos for reelection to Congress or for any other office,” Cairo said. “The serial liar has disgraced the House of Representatives and has deceived the public.”

In March, Cairo said once again Santos would not receive the Nassau GOP’s endorsement adding, “If he decides to run, we will oppose and beat him.”

Then on Monday, after hearing of Santos’ plans to run again, Cairo released a statement saying, “It’s time for George Santos to go!”

The state and Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs added a bit of humor in his statement of disapproval. “George Santos is 16 days late. April Fools' Day was on the first of this month, and that would have been a more appropriate date to announce his re-election campaign,” Jacobs said. “I am sure that congressmembers (Anthony) D'Esposito, (Andrew) Garbarino, (Nicholas) Lalota, (Mike) Lawler, (Marcus) Molinaro, and (Brandon) Williams are all very excited to be running with George Santos.”

Jacobs blames the aforementioned Republican congressmen for Santos’ continual service in the House of Representatives. “If these Representatives had done more to pressure Speaker Kevin McCarthy to bring a vote to expel him rather than just pay lip service, they would have been spared the embarrassment of running with George Santos, or whatever his name is,” Jacobs said.

Nassau Legislator Josh Lafazan, who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for Congress to represent the third district, has held 20 news conferences demanding Santos resign.

“George Santos is a liar, a fraud, and a failure,” Lafazan said. “New York's 3rd Congressional District deserves an honest congressman willing to put our district first. Santos must resign now and end this national embarrassment he created."

When Santos tweeted about his reelection, he said his leadership has been apparent in his four months as a congressman when he introduced and cosponsored more bills than any other freshman member of Congress.

Santos tweeted that his reelection is “about taking back our country and restoring greatness back to New York.” He is asking for support in the form of donations.