GOP tensions rise, Dems spot opportunity after Santos expulsion
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Amid US Republican representative George Santos' expulsion from the House, tensions are rising among the GOP while the Dems jump to seize the moment.
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Then Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., faces reporters at the Capitol in Washington, early Thursday, November 30, 2023. (AP)
Members within the GOP are criticized for opposing the expulsion of former Representative George Santos (R-N.Y.), while Democrats see the opportunity to not only win a fiercely contested House seat but also gain political momentum for the upcoming 2024 elections.
A party majority voted against expelling Santos, including most of the GOP, even though more than 100 Republicans voted with the motion.
In the eyes of the Democrats, Santos' removal triggers a special election to fill his seat, which could take place in a few months. The candidates for the election will be selected by county party leaders.
Dems are also already hinting at plans to win back the district, which went for US President Joe Biden by 8 percentage points in 2020.
Read next: Santos will be removed if Ethics panel says he broke the law: McCarthy
Mike Smith, the President of the House Majority PAC, stated that the Democratic super PAC intends to have a substantial impact on the NY-03 special election. He emphasized their commitment to taking all necessary actions to change the district's political affiliation to blue.
"I think Democrats will win the next election, there's absolutely no question about it," said former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), adding that the Republican leadership "just keep making matters worse for themselves."
Although a majority of Republican leaders opposed the expulsion, Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, voted in favor of it.
GOP tensions run high
In that regard, Republicans were nearly evenly divided, with 105 supporting expulsion and 112 opposing it. This stands in contrast to only two Democrats voting against expulsion, and another two opting to vote "present."
The effort to save Santos gained last-minute traction when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other leadership members publicly opposed expulsion on the morning of the vote.
Read next: US Rep. Santos was a drag queen in Brazil, friends say
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), who has been critical of Johnson, said ahead of the vote that the Republican leadership's opposition to expulsion was "shameful".
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) acknowledged the potential political drawbacks for leadership supporting expulsion, stating to Axios, "This vote was a matter of conscience. The truth and moral principles remain constant, regardless of our majority margin."
Santos expelled from Congress
This all comes after US lawmakers voted to expel George Santos on Friday, a New York Republican mired in scandal and facing a litany of federal charges.
Santos, who played a role in helping the Republicans secure a narrow majority in 2022, quickly became embroiled in controversy as it surfaced that nearly his entire personal and professional history was a fabrication.
Read next: FBI investigating Santos for stealing $3,000 from homeless veteran
The 35-year-old politician faces federal charges, including theft, credit card fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
The tipping point, however, came with a congressional ethics investigation that presented "overwhelming evidence" of misconduct. The probe accused Santos of attempting to "fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy."
