MAGA Gay, GOP Candidate Headed to Congress
After Democratic candidate Robert Zimmerman conceded early Wednesday morning in a historic, closely-watched race in New York's 3rd congressional district, Republican George Santos is set to become the only openly gay Republican in Congress, reports Business Insider.
"The Long Island election itself was historic, as it was the first time two openly LGBTQ candidates nominated by major parties competed in a general election for federal office."
With 89% of precincts reporting Wednesday morning, Santos had 54.2%, while Zimmerman had 45.8%.
Santos took to Twitter on early Wednesday morning to celebrate his victory, NBC News.
"We did it! #NY03 has spoken! I promised one thing throughout this entire campaign: to be your champion in DC," he wrote. "Thank you for this opportunity to be your voice!"
But in the political spectrum, Santos is an unabashed MAGA-gay. After losing in the same district in 2020, he traveled to Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021, to attend President Donald Trump's speech, which he has raved about. "I was at the Ellipse on January 6," said Santos during a February 2021 appearance on "The Right View" hosted by Lara Trump. "That was the most amazing crowd, and the president was at his full awesomeness that day."
He went on to tweet that January 6 a "sad and dark day," and to emphasize he was "never on Capitol grounds" that day. But, Business Insider adds, "he was later caught on camera by a Democratic activist saying that he had cut a 'nice check to a law firm' to get people arrested in DC on January 6 out of jail."
"Don't want to publicize it, but pretty adamant about that," he said during the video. "Imagine breaking into your own house and being charged for trespassing."
But don't expect the 34-year-old investment banker to be joining with progressives on LGBTQ+ issues. After Florida passed its controversial "Don't Say Gay" legislation earlier this year, he offered his support in a Facebook video.
"As a gay man, I stand proudly behind not teaching our children sex or sexual orientation," he said in a Facebook video in April, referring to the Florida law. "That's incumbent on the parents, not educators."
Business Insider adds that "Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act forbids classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for third graders and younger; critics say the law is intended to target LGBTQ people, chilling their ability to express themselves."
Santos continued: "DeSantis, you have my full-blown support, and I support your decision to protect our children's innocence," he said. "I stand proudly behind the Florida legislature for putting a decent bill that will protect values."
NBC News reports that "Republican legislators have filed a record 346 anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Many of the bills aim to restrict gender-affirming care for trans minors, prohibit trans girls and women from competing on girls' sports teams in school and bar the instruction of topics relating to sexual orientation or gender identity at school. This year alone, at least 12 bills restricting transgender rights have been signed into law, according to the American Civil Liberties Union."
In September, Santos told an interviewer that he sees no contradiction between his sexual orientation and his party's politics.
"As a lifelong Republican, I have never experienced discrimination in the Republican Party," he said at the time. "I am an openly gay candidate. I am not shy."
He is, though, shy on expressing his views on LGBTQ+ issues. There is no mention of them on his issues page on his official website.