It’s Mazi vs. Suozzi.

Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck) has been selected by the Nassau County Republican Committee to run in the special election for the 3rd Congressional District next February to replace George Santos. 

The 44-year-old legislator will run against former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who held the seat that represents much of Nassau County and eastern Queens for six years before Santos took office. 

“Pilip is an effective tax fighter who will prioritize public safety, economic recovery, border security and tax relief in Congress,” the Nassau County Republican Committee said in a statement Thursday. “She will bring a fresh new perspective to Washington, starkly contrasting her from the candidate for the other major political party.”

Pilip’s campaign was kicked off Friday afternoon in Massapequa where a slew of Long Island politicians and public officials – including North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral – rallied behind the Republican candidate.

“I can’t tell you how much I’m excited about this moment and how I am thankful for this moment,” Pilip said, extending her thanks to the GOP Party and fellow members. “…This is a very historic moment for me and my family.”

The Republican candidate said she is running for the congressional seat because “the future of our nation is at stake,” advocating for rebuilding the economy, securing the borders, supporting the police and supporting Israel.

“I will stand up to the extremes who want to destroy our way of life, defunding the police and weakening our criminal laws and eliminating the State of Israel,” Pilip said.

Pilip went on to tout her work as a Nassau County legislator, pointing out her support of two tax freeze budgets and pushing for police funding.

“I am the only candidate in this race who can say that I have not supported tax hikes,” Pilip said.

She added that she also stands in support of Israel, Ukraine and “all nations that are subject of terrorism.”

“I want to present the interests of my community and be the voice for all,” Pilip said. “And I am very excited because I am the example of the American Dream. I have overcome many challenges in my life, and that is why I want to be the voice for our middle-class families, those who are left behind, our senior citizens, our young people.”

In response to her speech at the rally Friday, present in front of a packed house filled with hundreds of supporters, the crowd erupted in cheers as they chanted her name.

“What a great day to be a Republican in Nassau County,” state Sen. Jack Martins said at the rally.

Pilip’s nomination comes after a stringent vetting process by county Republicans that reportedly included at least 20 candidates, according to the Republican county committee.

Cairo said Friday that “many individuals” were considered for the nomination.

Two other candidates in the running to earn the nomination were Mike Sapraicone, a retired NYPD detective and business owner, and Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan war veteran and former J.P. Morgan vice president.

Nassau Republican Chairman Joe Cairo, who endorsed Santos in two campaigns, said to The New York Times the party is comfortable in their selection.

“We know everything we need to know about Mazi,” Cairo told The Times.

Pilip has already been the target of scrutiny since her nomination announcement Thursday.

In a statement from Jay Jacobs Friday, the New York State and Nassau County Democratic Committee chairman said that Pilip “rarely votes,” citing board of election data that shows she has only voted in five elections since she registered in 2012.

He said that she did not vote in seven elections, as well as never voting in a primary election.

Jacobs also said that Pilip supports the Conservative Party platform and ran on their party line in 2021 and 2023. He added that the party is “extreme” as it opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest, as well as opposes Red Flag Laws – legislation that is intended to prevent gun violence.

The chairman also scrutinized Pilip for her prior support of Santos.

“The last thing the working folks of LI and Eastern Queens want is an unknown candidate who called George Santos a good friend, has voted in less than half the elections she was eligible to vote in, and is aligned with MAGA Republicans and the Conservative Party in their anti-choice, anti-gun safety extremism,” Jacobs said.

The House Majority PAC, a Super PAC focused on electing Democrats to the House of Representatives, also scrutinized the Republican nominee for her support of Santos.

The PAC’s digs into Pilip also included her dodging of a question from a New York Times reporter regarding her stance on abortion rights, as well as a suit against her husband’s medical practice in 2020 for “allegedly failing to pay about $70,000 in back rent and has $500,000 still due on its lease,” a report by Politico states.

Pilip was allegedly the operations director of the practice at the time of the suit.

“Even with the GOP’s so-called ‘extensive vetting’ Mazi Pilip is shaping up to be the next George Santos from blatantly lying, dodging questions, and concealing her failed work history,” House Majority PAC NY Press Secretary Alisha Heng said. “New Yorkers will not vote for extremist candidate Mazi Pilip who can’t even answer simple questions on defending basic rights while campaigning with anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ MAGA Mike Johnson.”

Nassau County GOP Committee spokesperson Mike Deery said in an email response that Pilip does not support a nationwide abortion ban, and “repudiated” Santos, calling for his resignation once his lies were made known.

He did not respond to any of the other Democrats’ statements about Pilip.

Deery did tout Pilip’s qualifications and condemned Suozzi, saying that he did nothing to stop the border crisis while serving in Congress and supported the “failed Biden agenda.”

Deery attributed the rise in inflation, the migration crises and “serious international conflict” to Biden.

“Mazi Pilip represents the priorities of the residents of the 3rd Congressional District,” Deery said. “The contrast between the two candidates couldn’t be more striking. She is only answerable to the constituents of the district. Her opponent, on the other hand, has asked to be a member of The Squad, to which AOC gushed, ‘you’re in…’ Mazi is the fresh new face that the district deserves. Her opponent, High Tax Tom Suozzi, is a career politician who is looking to return to the public payroll after being rejected by voters multiple times.”

Republicans across the federal and local levels endorsed Pilip Thursday afternoon, with U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) of the 4th Congressional District saying on social media she is the “common sense candidate for Long Islanders” who are frustrated with President Joe Biden’s administration. 

DeSena, who campaigned alongside Pilip this cycle, said in a statement to Blank Slate Media she is a great choice to run for Congress.

“I believe she is the fresh new leadership and voice that we need to fight for the interests of our community,” DeSena said. 

Suozzi’s campaign responded to Pilip’s announcement, without addressing her by name, that he will continue to work across the aisle and bring common sense to Washington. 

“His focus is on helping families get ahead, improving veteran health care, cleaning our air and water, and protecting our suburban quality of life,” the campaign said.

Next year’s election will decide who will finish out the remainder of Santos’ term, who was expelled from Congress on Dec. 1 by 311-114 vote, with 105 Republicans voting in favor of his removal. 

Pilip most recently won re-election in November to a second two-year term in the county Legislature, defeating Great Neck businessman Weihua Yan comfortably by securing nearly 60% of the vote.

Pilip first flipped the 10th County Legislative District after defeating then-incumbent Ellen Birnbaum, a Democrat. 

She is currently chair of the Legislature’s Towns, Villages & Cities Committee, vice chairwoman of the Health & Social Services and a member of the public safety, senior affairs and veterans committee.

During the most recent election cycle, Pilip ran on a platform of continuing to meet the needs of her constituents on issues such as crime, flooding and housing. The legislator said major crimes in her district were down 25% in a previous interview with Blank Slate Media. 

Prior to serving in public office, she was a member of the Great Neck Architectural Review Board, vice president of her synagogue, a coach in youth soccer, outreach coordinator for Jewish and Ethiopian causes as a national speaker. 

Pilip was born in a small poor village in Ethiopia, grew up without running water in her home. She immigrated to Israel in 1991 when she was 11 years old, along with her family, as part of Operation Solomon.

After graduation, she served in the Israeli Defense Forces in the paratrooper unit. She graduated Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities with degrees in diplomacy, politics and security.

She emigrated to the United States with her husband, Dr. Adalbert Pilip. She lives in Great Neck, raising their seven children.

“She is truly the American success story,” Blakeman said at her rally Friday.