Nassau County Republicans have selected Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Ethiopian immigrant and former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, as their nominee for the upcoming special election to replace ousted GOP Rep. George Santos. Pilip will face former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), the Democratic nominee, in the Feb. 13 special election. Pilip has been endorsed by the Nassau County Republican Party and is seen as a competitive candidate in the race for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives.