By Alexandra Marquez —
NBC News
Former Republican Rep. George Santos said Friday that he plans to run as an independent candidate in New York's 1st District this year.
"I am officially suspending my petition in #NY01 to get on the ballot as a Republican and will be filing to run as an independent," Santos wrote in X.
The former official cited “today's disgraceful performance in the House” by Republicans as his reason for switching to an independent candidacy.
The Republican-led House of Representatives voted early Friday to approve a $1.2 trillion spending bill hours before the government shutdown deadline.
Santos was previously elected and sworn in to serve New York's 3rd District, but was ousted in December amid federal criminal charges.
George Santos outside the Capitol in Washington, DC.
on November 30, 2023.Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images
Santos was first charged in May with 13 counts, including
wire fraud and money laundering.
In October, the official received a more extensive 23-count indictment.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In a letter to his House colleagues before the vote, Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, claimed that Santos personally let him and his mother down.
[Justice Department files federal charges against Republican Congressman George Santos]
In a February special election to fill that seat, Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip to succeed Santos in the Long Island district.
Earlier this month, Santos announced that he would run as a Republican in New York's 1st District, where he would face GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, one of the Republicans who voted to oust Santos, in the primary.
[Controversial congressman George Santos speaks in Spanish with Noticias Telemundo and insists on not resigning]
To appear on the ballot as an independent, Santos will have to collect and submit 3,500 signatures from voters in that district.
According to the state elections board, he can begin collecting those signatures as early as April 16 and must submit them to the Suffolk County Board of Elections by May 28.