Democrat Brad Schwartz has unofficially announced his candidacy for the New York State Senate, challenging incumbent Elaine Phillips (R-Manhasset) for the District 7 slot.
Schwartz, who has launched a “Brad Schwartz for State Senate” website, is a Town of North Hempstead resident and self-described grassroots candidate “who finally said enough” and decided to run for office to bring about change after a successful television career, he said on the website.
The state Senate is almost evenly divided between the two parties with 31 Republicans and 32 Democrats, and Schwartz is looking to increase the Democratic majority in the November 2018 elections.
After contracting Lyme disease, Schwartz was bedridden for years during recovery, according to the website, and will push for affordable and accessible healthcare across New York, supporting a single-payer option to ensure sick and disabled residents receive health insurance even if the Affordable Care Act is repealed at the federal level.
Schwartz will also focus on tax reform, supporting a current Senate bill from the Democratic caucus entitled Tax Returns Unanimously Made Public, as well as human rights and LGBT issues. Schwartz, an openly gay man, said on the website he would work with his fellow senators if elected to pass the Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act, which was passed in the state Assembly but failed in the Senate.
Schwartz as well as Phillips’ spokesman Steve Romano could not be reached for comment.