Mazi Melesa Pilip Nominated by New York Republicans for Vacant Congressional Seat

Ethiopian-born Israeli immigrant to face off against Democrat Tom Suozzi in special election, potentially becoming the first Black Jewish woman in Congress.

New York Republicans have nominated Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Nassau County legislator, to fill the vacancy created by former Rep. George Santos’ expulsion from Congress.
Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Israeli immigrant to the U.S. who served in the Israel Defense Forces’ paratroopers unit, is set to face former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, the Democratic nominee, in a Feb. 13 special election.
If elected, Pilip would be the only Black Republican woman in the current Congress, and almost certainly the first Black Jew ever to serve on Capitol Hill.
National Republicans plan to paint Suozzi, a centrist, as an “extreme” liberal.
Despite having won her county legislative seat on the Republican ballot line, Pilip is still a registered Democrat.