GOP picks Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip as candidate to replace George Santos in NY-3

Republicans picked Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip as their candidate for the upcoming special election to replace ousted Rep. George Santos, according to an announcement on Thursday from the head of the Nassau County GOP.

Pilip’s selection comes nearly two weeks after Gov. Kathy Hochul set the Feb. 13 special election date and follows several reports of Nassau and Queens County Republican leaders struggling to thoroughly check the background of any potential Santos successor.

“Pilip is an effective tax fighter who will prioritize public safety, economic recovery, border security and tax relief in Congress,” said Nassau County Republican Chair Joe Cairo, who was leading the selection process, in a statement.

“She will bring a fresh new perspective to Washington, starkly contrasting her from the candidate from the other political party,” he added, taking a swipe at her Democratic opponent Tom Suozzi, a former congressmember from the district.

Democrats immediately slammed the GOP’s choice.

“Time and again, the Republican Party desperately tried to expunge their own history of protecting a criminally indicted liar at the expense of northeast Queens and Long Island constituents,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement, referring to Santos, who was ousted from Congress over a series of ethical and potentially criminal violations.

“Now, Long Island Republicans have chosen Mazi Melesa Pilip, serial fraudster George Santos’ close friend and MAGA extremist, to clean up their mess,” she continued. “Pilip and Republicans will be held accountable for their shameless record of propping up corruption and working against the best interest of constituents in New York’s 3rd Congressional District.”

Pilip, 44, was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel in 1991 to escape religious persecution. She later served as a paratrooper with the Israeli Defense Forces.

She came to the United States with her husband, a cardiologist. They currently live in Great Neck, Long Island, and have seven children.

Even though Pilip serves as a Republican in the Nassau County Legislature, Politico reported last week that she was still a registered Democrat. According to voting records reviewed by Gothamist, Pilip has not changed her party affiliation since then, even as she prepares to run as the Republican nominee in this race.

Pilip could not immediately be reached for comment. Party leaders are expected to hold an announcement ceremony with her in the district on Friday.

A spokesperson for Suozzi’s campaign declined to comment on Pilip’s nomination directly and said he remains focused on “protecting our suburban quality of life.”

“People are sick and tired of the circus in Congress,” said Kim Devlin, a senior adviser to Suozzi’s campaign. “Tom Suozzi has a proven record that he will work every day to try and bring common sense back to Washington by working across party lines, like he's always done.”

The special election is drawing attention from House leadership as Republicans fight to retain control of the chamber.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, chair of the House GOP conference, endorsed Pilip in a statement on the social media platform X and praised her personal story as well as her commitment to working families.

“Mazi Pilip is a shining example of the American Dream, and her extraordinary story reflects that,” Stefanik said. “As a paratrooper, mom and local elected official, Mazi knows how to lead.”

Given that Pilip is an Orthodox Jewish woman of color who has built her brief political career around combating antisemitism, her selection changes the dynamics of a race where Democrats seek to focus on local economic issues, according to political observers in the district.

“While it’s still uphill in a Democratic leaning district, against a well-known and -respected opponent, Mazi Pilip may be about the strongest candidate the Republicans could’ve chosen,” said Lawrence Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

He said she’s shown her ability to attract support from people who do not normally vote Republican in her two successful bids for a county legislative seat drawn for Democrats.

Her African and Jewish backgrounds, Levy said, could also help her in a district where Jewish voters have been influential, while her role as a mother of seven and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces could make her harder to attack.

“The good news for Tom Suozzi is that he should have no trouble waking up donors and foot soldiers for what is now a competitive contest,” he said.

Correction: A previous version of this story included the incorrect year for when Mazi Melesa Pilip immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia. She moved in 1991.