Comeback kid? Expelled former Rep. George Santos announces bid for Congress

George Santos plans a comeback.

The New York Republican who was expelled from the House last year announced Thursday night that he plans to run again for a new seat, challenging Rep. Nick LaLota in the Republican primary in New York’s 1st Congressional District.

“Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over #NY1. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country,” Mr. Santos wrote.

“God bless you all, and we are off to the races!” he wrote.

Both Mr. Santos’ former district and Mr. LaLota’s are on Long Island.

Mr. Santos was expelled from the Republican-majority House in December after the House ethics committee documented thousands of dollars in campaign-fund spending for personal use, including such luxuries as Botox, an OnlyFans subscription and Hermes designer products.

A 23-count federal indictment also accused him of unemployment-benefits and credit-card fraud, and related offenses. He first became notorious when several lies about his resume and biography came to light after he was first elected in 2022.

Even if a member is expelled from the Congress, he can still run and be elected again.

Mr. Santos was on the House floor — a privilege former members generally have — for Thursday evening’s State of the Union address by President Biden.

He said in his X post explaining his decision to run that he came “with an open mind and heart” but instead saw “a weak, frail president deliver spin and lies to the American people from inside the chambers.”