Former congressman George Santos took aim at his former colleagues after a Democrat won his seat in a special election.
Santos sent a scathing text message to several of his former colleagues, according to Wednesday reports from The Daily Beast and Semafor after Democrat Tom Souzzi won his congressional seat on Tuesday.
"I hope you guys are happy with this dismal performance and the $10 million dollars your futile bulls--- cost the party," Santos wrote to seven former colleagues. "I look very much forward to seeing most of you lose due to your absolute hate filled campaign to remove me from Congress arbitrarily."
"Now, go tell the Republican base what you f---ing idiots did and good luck raising money next quarter," Santos added.
New York Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who voted in favor of Santos' expulsion, responded to Santos’ message, writing, “Sorry new phone, who dis?”
Santos has also shared a series of posts to his X account critical of his seat flipping for House Democrats.
"I flipped a 23 year Blue seat with the help of grassroots activists and by activating the base with retail politics," Santos said of his 2022 victory. “#NY3 is #MAGA country and since MAGA was disrespected, MAGA stayed home!”
Former President Donald Trump commented on Souzzi's Tuesday victory in a Truth Social post.
"I have an almost 99% Endorsement Success Rate in Primaries, and a very good number in the General Elections, as well, but just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, running in a race where she didn’t endorse me and tried to 'straddle the fence,' when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America," Trump wrote. "MAGA, WHICH IS MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, STAYED HOME - AND IT ALWAYS WILL, UNLESS IT IS TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES."
"I STAYED OUT OF THE RACE, 'I WANT TO BE LOVED!'" he continued. "GIVE US A REAL CANDIDATE IN THE DISTRICT FOR NOVEMBER. SUOZZI, I KNOW HIM WELL, CAN BE EASILY BEATEN!"
Santos was expelled from Congress on Dec. 1, 2023 with 311 votes in favor of his removal — 105 of which were Republicans.
Souzzi defeated GOP challenger Mazi Pilip by just under 8 points.
Prior to Souzzi's Tuesday win, House Republicans held a slim seven-seat majority over Democrats with four vacant seats.
Aside from Santos, vacant seats were held by former Republican representatives including former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, who announced his resignation shortly after his October ousting as Speaker.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special election to fill McCarthy's seat with a scheduled March 19 primary and general election on May 21 if any one candidate fails to reach a 50% threshold.
Former Ohio Rep. Bill Johnson resigned last month to assume presidency of Youngstown State University. A special election primary for his seat is also scheduled on March 19 and a general election on June 11.
