Santos says he's leaving GOP, will run as independent in New York House race

Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) announced online Friday that he is leaving the Republican Party and will instead run as an independent in his New York House race this fall.

“I am officially suspending my petitioning in #NY01 to access the ballot as a Republican and will be filing to run as an independent…” Santos posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I will take my Ultra MAGA/Trump supporting values to the ballot in November as an Independent.”

Santos, who faces multiple federal fraud charges, was expelled from the House in a historic vote in December, just weeks after the House Ethics Committee released a damning report that said there is “substantial evidence” he committed serious crimes.

The former lawmaker has remained active online since departing Congress and made a surprise appearance at President Biden’s State of the Union address earlier this month.

During the address, Santos announced that he would be running again, challenging Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.).

In his recent post, Santos referenced the “embarrassing showing” in the House after the lower chamber passed a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown. Shortly after the vote, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Santos said he “reflected” and has decided that he “can no longer be part of the Republican Party.” He argued that the GOP “continues to lie and swindle” its voters and he can no longer affiliate “with a party that stands for nothing and falls for everything.”

In his post, Santos tagged LaLota and former CNN anchor John Avlon, who joined the race as a Democrat. He said he would “see you boys in November!”