The New York Times has called the election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District for incumbent Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D), which means that out gay Trump-supporter George Santos is projected to lose his election bid.
If he had been elected, Santos would have been the first out LGBTQ Republican elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He conceded earlier this week.
Related: Log Cabin Republicans endorsed some of the most anti-LGBTQ politicians running for office
On Twitter, Santos accused Democrats of “working double time to stop the first ever Gay #Republican from serving in congress. I know why, it would #destroy their narrative!”
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
#democrats are working double time to stop the first ever Gay #Republican from serving in congress. I know why, it would #destroy their narrative! #GOP #USA #FightForFreedom #Elections2020 #VoterSuppression #StopTheSteal
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) November 9, 2020
Santos presented himself as a far-right choice in the district that includes most of the North Shore of Long Island with a platform that included ending bail reform, increased funding for the police, less gun control, partial privatization of Social Security, and building a wall between Mexico and the U.S. His website says he supports marriage equality.
In October, he appeared on the local news as a gay Trump supporter, saying, “I think that this president has done more for the community than his predecessors.”
This gay man is voting for Trump, despite disagreeing with some of his policies on LGBTQ rights, because he says "if you agree with someone 70 percent, you support them." Watch the CBS News special, "The Deciders," Friday at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. https://t.co/r09cdd2E9h pic.twitter.com/JDwFPs6svz
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 29, 2020
He apparently fears that Joe Biden will collaborate with China to bring another global pandemic to movie theaters in the U.S.
#facts from real Americans! 🇺🇸💙💪🏻 https://t.co/8Li1D2jKYb
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) November 2, 2020
Santos tweeted support for Michelle Steel, a Republican House candidate who was caught bragging that she pulled her daughter out of college for “a year of brainwash” because the daughter supported LGBTQ equality.
Congratulations @MichelleSteelCA on your historic win!
This was the year of the #GOP Women! Looking forward to meeting you soon. https://t.co/AMgXgyCd6K
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) November 11, 2020
Since the election but before he conceded, Santos has been claiming that he is the victim of voter fraud and called on the “FBI,CIA,DOJ” to intervene on his behalf to stop “ILLEGAL VOTES.”
The rampant FRAUD of these elections is frighting! I urge the FBI,CIA,DOJ to intervene, stop the counting of ILLEGAL VOTES! #DemocratsAreCorrupt #DemocratsAreCheating #eleccion2020 #corruption #4MoreYears #DemocratsAreDestroyingAmerica
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) November 6, 2020
Out Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS), Angie Craig (D-MN), Chris Pappas (D-NH), David Cicilline (D-RI), Mark Takano (D-CA), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) have all won their reelection campaigns for the U.S. House, and newcomers Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones – both from New York – won their elections.
This means that there are going to be at least eight out LGBTQ members of the House next session – Rep. Sean Maloney’s (D-NY) reelection bid in New York’s 18th District has not yet been called – and two out U.S. senators: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).