George Anthony Devolder Santos (born July 22, 1988) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 3rd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Santos was elected to Congress in 2022 after running unsuccessfully in 2020 against incumbent Democratic representative Thomas Suozzi.
Santos was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, to Brazilian parents. He graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, in 2006. He then attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he studied business administration. However, he did not complete his degree and left the university in 2010.
After leaving college, Santos worked in a variety of jobs, including as a financial analyst and a sales representative. He also founded his own company, Devolder Santos & Associates, which provides investment advice and financial services.
Santos became involved in politics in the early 2010s. He volunteered for Republican campaigns and served as a member of the Republican Executive Committee of Nassau County, New York. In 2016, he ran for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 3rd congressional district, but he lost in the primary election.
Santos ran again for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020, this time against incumbent Democratic representative Thomas Suozzi. He lost the election by a narrow margin, but he gained a following among conservative voters in Nassau County.
In 2022, Santos ran for the U.S. House of Representatives for the third time. He defeated Suozzi in the general election, becoming the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in the House of Representatives as a non-incumbent.
Santos’ election to Congress has been controversial. He has been accused of embellishing his resume and of making false statements about his background. He has also been criticized for his conservative views on social issues.
Despite the controversy, Santos remains a popular figure among many Republicans in Nassau County. He is seen as a rising star in the Republican Party, and he is expected to play a significant role in the party’s future.
