U.S. adults favorability of George Santos 2023

A survey conducted in December 2023 found that four percent of Americans held a very favorable view of George Santos. Comparatively, 47 percent had a very unfavorable view of the former congressman from New York’s 3rd congressional district. He is a member of the Republican party.

Congressional run

George Santos was elected to an open seat in New York after the 2022 midterm election. As a candidate, he was described as embodying the American dream. He is the son of immigrants and has stated that he was born into abject poverty. He presented himself as having worked his way through school, eventually graduating with an MBA from New York University, and finding employment at successful investment banks such as Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.

Election and fall-out

In the weeks after his election, several news outlets reported that he had misrepresented his profile, including his education and career. It was revealed that Santos had never attended an institute of higher education and had most recently worked for a company accused of running a Ponzi scheme by the SEC. He is also accused of fabricating information about his lineage, charitable work, ownership of real estate, and being the victim of numerous crimes. Additionally, he is the subject of a fraud investigation by Brazilian authorities, which was reopened in the wake of his election victory. He has since been condemned by numerous members of his party and faces calls to resign from Congress. In November 2023, an ethics investigation found Santos guilty of spending campaign finances for personal use, leaving him with over 20 federal court charges. In response to the incriminating report, the House of Representatives voted to expel the New York Representative on December 1, 2023.