Mazi Melesa Pilip
Mazi Melesa Pilip | |
|---|---|
מזי מלסה פיליפ | |
Pilip in 2023 | |
| Member of the Nassau County Legislature from the 10th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ellen Birnbaum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 or 1979 (age 45–46) Ethiopia |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Republican (before 2012, 2024–present) Democratic (2012–2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican Caucus (2022–present) |
| Spouse |
Adalbert Pilip (m. 2005) |
| Children | 7 |
| Education | University of Haifa (BA) Tel Aviv University (MA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Branch/service | Israel Defense Forces |
| Unit | Paratroopers Brigade |
Mazi Melesa Pilip (born 1978 or 1979) is an American politician in the Nassau County Legislature representing the 10th district. A Republican, she is an Ethiopian Jew who immigrated to Israel when she was 12 years old, and later served as a gunsmith in the Israel Defense Forces. After her IDF service, she attended college at the University of Haifa and graduate school at Tel Aviv University. She immigrated to the United States in 2005.
Since 2021, Pilip has been a member of the Nassau County Legislature. While registered as a Democrat from 2012–24, she ran for the legislature on the Republican ballot line. In 2024, she was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House from New York's 3rd district in the special election following the expulsion of Republican George Santos, losing to Democrat Tom Suozzi.