State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) said she’s running for re-election in the 7th Senate District to protect issues her constituents believe have lead to a crisis in the country. 

“I think we are living in a very divided country right now and we have extremists trying to take over our country, our community and our way of life,” Kaplan said Monday in an interview with Blank Slate Media. “I hear from a lot of women who feel very threatened right now and I hear from a lot of communities that don’t feel comfortable with gun safety in this country.”

Kaplan is running against Jeremy Joseph of Hicksville in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The winner will face former state Sen. Jack Martins, who held the seat from 2010 to 2016. 

Kaplan has served in the Senate since 2019 when she defeated Republican incumbent Elaine Philips. Kaplan also won re-election in 2020 against former Port Washington Police Commissioner Dave Franklin.

During her second term as senator, Kaplan said she has focused on issues including middle-class tax relief, women’s rights and reducing gun violence and hate crimes in local communities. 

Kaplan was a co-sponsor on the state’s Reproductive Health Act that codified Roe v. Wade. 

“The Republicans who were in power in the state Senate for decades refused to bring legislation like that to the floor for a vote,” Kaplan said. “But there’s still more for us to do.”

Kaplan said she supports the Equality Rights Amendment, which needs to pass two consecutive sessions of state legislature before New Yorkers vote on making it an amendment to the state constitution in 2024. 

The Equality Rights Amendment would prohibit discrimination based on the person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex including sexual orientation and gender. 

Kaplan said she believes she has a good track record and can stand on her resume in a general election. 

Kaplan credits a big part of the Republican sweep throughout each countywide position in 2021 as a failure to identify the opponent, discuss their track records and speak on their experience. 

“I know that a lot of my constituents and residents have seen the work that I’ve done the past four years in the Senate and seven years as a member of North Hempstead’s Town Board.”

On bail reform, Kaplan said she had issues with the changes made, which were included in the 2020 budget. She said she voted for the budget because of the importance of the overall package but was open to changes in bail reform laws in the future.

“We want to make sure our communities are safe but even more importantly that if we continue to look at the data, we have to see where it’s taking us,” Kaplan said. “We have see how it’s translating into our daily lives.”

On affordable housing, Kaplan believes there is not one solution for the entire state because of how unique Nassau County is.

She said Gov. Kathy Hochul had good intentions when she originally called for changing zoning laws for Accessory Dwelling Units in her budget before removing it after backlash. 

“I think it’s something that needs to be developed with communities here that want this and working with villages, mayors and residents and getting them to buy in,” Kaplan said. 

One week ahead of the primary, Kaplan said. she has the resume to keep her seat in November and keep moving the state forward. 

“We need a strong person who can advocate and who can work with everybody to get results,” Kaplan said. “A lot of my legislation was passed bipartisan. I reach out and work with everyone who wants to work with me. My goal has always been to deliver for my residents and  work with whoever wants to work with me.”

Kaplan’s interview with Blank Slate Media can be found on YouTube.