New York State Representative George Santos won’t seek re-election after being the first Republican to flip a long-time Democrat seat in Orange County. Santos failed to properly report over $61,000 of outside income and gifts he received according to a new report from the New York Board of Elections.
The report claims that Santos used close business associates to pay for things like rent and car repairs while serving in office which is a violation of state ethics laws. He was also found to have failed to report $12,000 in donations to a political action committee he created.
Santos responded to the findings by releasing a statement saying, “I understand the importance of transparency and of remaining in compliance with existing laws and regulations. I apologize for any errors I may have committed and as a result have decided not to run for re-election.”
Santos was first elected to the Assembly in 2018 and had been seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. He was recently named to an Orange County Republican leadership role and has been considered a potential candidate for higher office.
The Assembly was set to consider a censure resolution against Santos prior to his announcement that he would not seek re-election. The resolution would have stripped him of his leadership role, and possibly prevented him from seeking higher office in the future.
Santos was the first Republican to flip Orange County since 2010, and the only one until this November’s election when a second GOP candidate was elected.
The sanctions against Santos have been seen as a warning sign for those currently running for office in the state, and a reminder for all candidates to not let ethical lapses become a distraction to their campaigns. Santos’ decision to forgo re-election was likely made in order to avoid dragging his name and his party’s name through the mud.