NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Nassau County Legislator and ex-IDF paratrooper Mazi Melesa Pilip has been selected as the GOP candidate to face off with Democratic candidate and former Rep. Tom Suozzi in the Feb. 13 special election to replace expelled former Rep. George Santos.
The Nassau County Legislator who won her re-election campaign on Nov. 7 is now in the race to overtake the remainder of Santos’ term representing the 3rd Congressional District in Nassau County and Queens.
Pilip, 44, an Ethiopian native and former Israeli Defense Force paratrooper who now resides in Great Neck, was first elected to the Nassau County Legislature’s 10th District representing North Hempstead as a Republican nominee in 2021.
Despite Newsday’s report that State Board of Elections show Pilip as a registered Democrat, this is her second legislative backing by GOP leaders.
“When I started this journey three years ago, I wanted to be the voice for everyone. For me, it's not about Republicans and Democrats, it's about giving good government for the people," Pilip told Newsday. “I'm confident I'm going to have the support from residents, and we're going to have a great victory on Feb. 13.”
She is set to run against Suozzi, who held the position since 2017 but gave it up in 2022 to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Pilip reposted Instagram stories to her account Thursday celebrating her candidacy and confirming her campaign.