Expect ‘plot twists and dramatic turns’ in race to succeed Santos

ALBANY, N.Y. — The story of George Santos has been one of the strangest in modern political history. The race to replace him could be just as messy.

It’s uncertain whether there will even be a primary election for the Long Island swing seat or if party leaders will select the next nominees. If there are primaries, they could occur weeks before a special election. And it’s possible the district could be completely redrawn in 2024.

Whatever the trajectory, New York’s 3rd District is crucial to the House Republicans maintaining the majority. Democrats are hoping Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to hang on to a member who’s facing 13 federal fraud charges, including lying to Congress, will help them win back the seat in 2024. The race will receive national attention as a postscript to an unparalleled political scandal in which Santos fabricated whole swaths of his campaign biography from untrue claims that he worked at Goldman Sachs to false boasts about being a college volleyball star.