State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) has been endorsed by three women’s organizations ahead of the Aug. 23 primary for New York’s 7th Senate District.
Planned Parenthood Empire States Vote, National Organization for Women New State and Eleanor’s Legacy have backed Kaplan in her re-election bid.
Kaplan is running against Jeremy Joseph in the Democratic primary on Aug. 23.
Former state Sen. Jack Martins is running unopposed in the Republican primary for the 7th Senate District.
Planned Parenthood Empire State Votes is a PAC that supports candidates who stand with Planned Parenthood, access to health care and everyone’s control over their bodies, lives and futures.
“As women’s health, rights and freedoms are being relentlessly attacked around the country–we need state leaders in office like Anna Kaplan who will advance bold policies and actions to further New York’s legacy as a leader in protecting and expanding access to comprehensive reproductive health care,” Georgana Hanson, interim chair said in a statement. “Senator Kaplan has been a fierce defender of choice for her entire career, and we’re going to fight to keep her in office to battle the extremist voices who are trying to send us backward.”
The National Organization for Women New York State advocates for women and girls by defending reproductive rights, fighting inequality and ending discrimination and violence against women and girls.
“We know that the issues that are prioritized by government change when women have a seat at the table, and as our state senator, Anna Kaplan has always made sure women’s voices are being heard in Albany,” President Sonia Ossorio said. “From her leadership on the Reproductive Health Act to the new law she wrote making New York a safe haven for women seeking abortion care after the fall of Roe, no one has been a stronger voice for us than Sen. Kaplan.”
Founded in 2001, Eleanor’s Legacy recruits, trains and supports pro-choice Democratic women to run for public office in New York.
“At a time when women’s hard-fought abortion rights are being stolen by extremists, we need more women in positions of power to fight for our issues, not less,” Executive Director Sophie Nir said. “Anna Kaplan is the only Democratic woman in the Senate from Long Island, and she’s always fought to deliver for us, not only by being a fierce and outspoken defender of abortion rights, but by delivering meaningful legislative achievements that fight back against extremist attacks on women’s bodies. We need to keep Anna Kaplan in office fighting for the issues that matter to women.”
Kaplan said she is proud of the support and vowed to fight back against extremists to protect reproductive rights.
“Protecting women and protecting choice has always been my priority, and always will be my priority. I ran for this seat because I was sick and tired of seeing extremist Republicans stopping important legislation like the Reproductive Health Act from becoming law, and since I’ve been in office, I’ve proudly fought to secure our rights here in New York no matter what,” Kaplan said in a statement.
“At a time when these extremists are doing everything in their power to steal our freedoms and control our bodies, I’m proud to partner with organizations like Planned Parenthood Empire State Votes PAC, NOW-NYS and Eleanor’s Legacy to fight back and protect our rights, and I’m so grateful for their support in my re-election campaign.”
Kaplan was elected to serve the Town of North Hempstead’s 4th District as a councilwoman in 2011. In 2016, she sought election to the House of Representatives but lost to current Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) in the Democratic primary. Kaplan defeated former Flower Hill Mayor Elaine Phillips in 2018 to represent the 7th Senate District.
Martins, an Old Westbury resident who represented the 7th District from 2011 to 2016, announced his campaign in late March.
Kaplan announced last week she has more than $504,000 cash on hand during the most recent campaign filing period.
Kaplan said she has raised more than $205,000 during the filing period from Jan. 15 – July 11.
Martins had $41,000 cash in his war chest, according to filing reports.
A former Mineola mayor from 2003-2010, Martins restructured the village’s finances, debt and property tax assessment system, and improved government transparency by broadcasting meetings on TV and publishing information online. In 2008, Martins ran an unsuccessful congressional campaign against former U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy before defeating incumbent 7th District Senator and Democrat Craig Johnson in 2010.
The race against Johnson was one that did not get resolved until early December due to Johnson demanding a recount of the votes, ultimately having his appeal denied by the state’s Court of Appeals.
After another failed attempt to get into Congress in 2016 when he lost to Suozzi, Martins shifted his focus to becoming Nassau County’s new county executive after former County Executive Edward Mangano was indicted on federal corruption charges.
Martins ultimately lost that race to Democrat Laura Curran, who served as county executive before being defeated by Republican Bruce Blakeman this past fall.
The 7th Senate district includes Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Williston Park, Mineola, Garden City Park, North Hills, Albertson, Old Westbury, East Hills, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Estates, Albertson, Searingtown, Lake Success, Manhasset, Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, and the Great Neck and Port Washington peninsulas.
