Disgraced ex-Rep. George Santos has left the Republican Party, purportedly frustrated by the GOP's perceived inability to govern in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Santos announced his decision on social media Friday. He will run for reelection as an “ultra MAGA independent.”
“After today's embarrassing showing in the house I have reflected and decided that I can no longer be part of the Republican Party,” he posted to X after the Speaker Johnson helped pass an eleventh hour $1.2 trillion government funding package to avoid a shutdown. (RELATED: Rep. Greene Files Motion To Oust House Speaker)
He continued: “I in good conscience cannot affiliate myself with a party that stands for nothing and falls for everything.”
Virtually every observer considers Santos' campaign to challenge incumbent Republican Nick LaLota in New York's 1st District as nothing more than tilting at windmills.
Still, the Daily Beast has the latest on his quixotic venture:
The campaign was mostly perceived as Santos—who is expected to stand trial for 23 indictments in federal court this fall—seeking attention again as well as a way to annoy LaLota, who helped lead the charge to boot Santos from office last December.
But that attention would have died down when Santos lost in the primary to LaLota. As an independent, he can campaign until November—if he qualifies for the ballot.
The 1st District, which covers the eastern half of Long Island, leans Republican. Two Democrats are running for the seat: the former CNN pundit and Daily Beast editor John Avlon, and chemist Nancy Goroff, who ran against former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R) in 2020.
“I will take my Ultra MAGA/Trump supporting values to the ballot in November as an Independent,” Santos proclaimed.
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