Special election to replace George Santos kicks off as Tom Souzzi and Mazi Pilip vie for seat - live

Former Rep George Santos, R-N.Y., holds a sign before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in Nashua, N.H., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024

A high-stakes special election in disgraced ex-Congressman George Santos’ former district goes to the polls today – in a race that will likely have major implications for national politics.

The special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional district pits Republican newcomer Mazi Pilip up against Tom Suozzi, a former three-term congressman, who vacated the seat in 2021 to launch an unsuccessful run for governor.

Ms Pilip is an Ethiopian-born, former Israeli Defense Force paratrooper whose compelling backstory has Republicans touting her as a future star of the party.

The by-election has taken on added significance due to Republicans’ slim majority in the House, and is shaping up as a bellwether for how well both parties are faring ahead of the 2024 general election.

The seat is up for grabs after Mr Santos was expelled from Congress in December last year following a series of highly embarrassing public revelations.

Just weeks after winning his race for Congress, the Republican lawmaker was revealed to have lied about large parts of his life and resume, including about his education, Wall Street career, and even his mother surviving the September 11 attacks.

In December, Mr Santos became only the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the House of Congress after the release of a damning House Ethics Committee report.

Two months earlier, he was chargedwith a host of fraud and dishonesty offences including embezzling money from his campaign and lying to Congress about his wealth.

A few quips aside, Mr Santos has been largely