From Kevin McCarthy to George Santos, 7 biggest political losers of 2023
From Kevin McCarthy to George Santos: Biggest political losers of 2023
2023 was marked by mayhem and indictments in the US political arena. From unhinged behavior to history-making mugshots, the year was filled with many wild moments including the launch of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and the sudden defenestration of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. These history-making moments led to the rise of many political winners and losers in 2023. As we reflect on the chaotic year, here is a look at some of the biggest political losers of 2023.
George Santos
Beleaguered former House Representative George Santos, R-NY, made headlines with a variety of colorful scandals, ranging from federal charges involving wire fraud to claims he was responsible for the cancer death of a military veteran’s dog. Over the course of 2023, he was accused of fabricating information regarding his employment history at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, his attendance at Baruch College, and his ancestry as a descendant of Holocaust survivors. In May, Santos was charged with 13 crimes including seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. He entered a not-guilty plea on all counts and denied breaking any laws. But his claims came to dust on December 1 when the House voted to expel him in a bipartisan vote. With his ouster, Santos became only the sixth lawmaker in American history to suffer this indignity.
Kevin McCarthy
McCarthy started 2023 on a high note by winning the House speakership following 15 grueling rounds, which saw him forced to make major concessions to a number of hard-right representatives. Nevertheless, the California Republican mainly failed to establish his dominance in a sharply split House Republican caucus. As a result, he was ousted from his speaker position by a handful of Republican dissidents who sided with the Democrats in the vote to remove him. On December 14, McCarthy gave his final speech to a House floor, telling reporters that it was a "bittersweet" ending to his career in Congress. Following this expulsion, he announced in December he would leave Congress altogether.
Rashida Tlaib
The sole American-Palestinian member of Congress, Rep Tlaib (D-Mich) has long been a vocal critic of the Israeli government and a member of a tiny but rising progressive movement that opposes the Democratic Party's conventional pro-Israel stance. In the days leading to the end of 2023, Tlaib made a slew of controversial remarks in response to Hamas' surprise October 7 attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead and another 240 kidnapped in Gaza. Her response to the crisis resulted in a formal House censure along bipartisan lines in November. She was also accused of "promoting false narratives" about the attack and "calling for the destruction of the state of Israel."
Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot, the former mayor of Chicago, suffered multiple self-inflicted wounds during her reelection campaign, which ultimately resulted in her defeat to current mayor Brandon Johnson. Lightfoot was the target of most of the criticism directed at city officials regarding the city's rising rate of violent crime. She also faced bipartisan blowback for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including clashes with progressives and the teachers union.
Susanna Gibson
Susanna Gibson is a Virginia Democrat who did not fare well in the most recent election season. The outstanding campaign of the nurse practitioner for a swing seat in the House of Delegates was derailed by allegations that she and her husband broadcasted sex acts on social media, accepting tips in exchange for lewd requests. She wound up losing the Richmond-area seat by less than 1,000 votes.
Joe Biden
In addition to struggling with low poll numbers, the nation's elderly commander-in-chief has had to contend with an impeachment investigation this year. In December, the US House, dominated by Republicans, approved a resolution to initiate a formal impeachment inquiry into Biden, alleging that he benefited improperly from the business interests of his son, Hunter Biden. The 81-year-old POTUS is also facing criticism from the progressive left for his backing of Israel in its conflict with Hamas, in addition to inquiries over his age and potential financial gain from his vice presidential position. This has culminated in early voter polls that show gloomy forecasts for his re-election prospects over the last several weeks.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump became the first former US president to face criminal charges after being indicted in four separate incidents this year. He has been accused of attempting to rig the 2020 presidential election both nationally and in Georgia, mishandling secret papers, and assisting in the payment of hush money to an adult film star. He has pleaded not guilty on all counts and insists the charges against him are politically motivated. However, the 77-year-old frontrunner for the GOP nomination is also facing backlash for his controversial remarks regarding undocumented immigrants.
