Anna Kaplan (née Monahemi) (born August 23, 1965) is an Iranian-American politician from Great Neck, New York. A Democrat, she was a member of the New York State Senate, representing New York's 7th State Senate district, which runs from the North Shore to roughly the central part of Western Nassau County on Long Island. She was a member of the so-called "Long Island Six," a group of six Democrats who represent Long Island in the New York State Senate and often vote as a block.[1] She was elected in 2018 as part of a wave of Democrats who defeated Republican incumbents and brought control of the New York Senate to the Democrats for only the third time since World War II.[2] She lost re-election in 2022 to Jack Martins.
Anna Kaplan | |
|---|---|
 Kaplan speaking at a March for Our Lives demonstration in 2018 | |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 7th district | |
| In office January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Elaine Phillips |
| Succeeded by | Jack Martins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anna Monahemi August 23, 1965 Tabriz, Iran |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Darren Kaplan |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Yeshiva University (BS, JD) |
Kaplan is the first Iranian-American to be elected to either of New York state's legislative chambers[3] and she is the first former political refugee to serve in the New York Senate.[4]
Early life and education
editKaplan was born to an Iranian Jewish family in Tabriz, Iran,[5] and raised in Tehran, where her father was a carpet dealer.[6] When the Islamic Revolution swept the country, Anna's parents sent her to the United States for safety at age 13.[7][8] Arriving as an unaccompanied child refugee[6] in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Anna was sent to live with a foster family in Chicago, Illinois, until her parents were able to legally enter the United States. After her family reunited in Chicago, they moved to Queens, New York, and then to Great Neck, New York.[9]
Kaplan attended the Stern College at Yeshiva University, and received her J.D. from Cardozo School of Law in New York City.[10]
Career
editEarly political career
editKaplan started her political career as a member of the North Hempstead Town Board in 2011, and served until her election to the state senate. She had previously served as a trustee of the Great Neck Public Library and was also a member of the North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals.[7]
2016 congressional primary
editOn January 11, 2016, Kaplan announced that she would run for the seat in the United States House of Representatives for New York's 3rd congressional district being vacated by retiring congressman Steve Israel.[11] Kaplan was defeated in the 2016 New York Congressional Democratic Primary by former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.[12] Suozzi won the general election.[13]
2018 New York Senate election
editOn April 27, 2018, flanked by Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Kaplan announced her candidacy for the New York State Senate's 7th District to a large gathering of supporters and state and local Democratic elected officials at the "Yes We Can Community Center" in Westbury, New York.[14] On August 1, 2018, Kaplan became the first candidate for New York State office to be endorsed by former President Barack Obama.[15]
On November 6, 2018, Kaplan defeated incumbent Senator Elaine Phillips and won election to the New York State Senate with 55 percent of the vote.[16]
State Senate
editKaplan was Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, and was a member of the Senate Committees on Children and Families, Internet and Technology, Judiciary, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Transportation and Women's Issues. She was also a member of the Legislative Women's Caucus.[4]
In January 2019, Kaplan was one of four new state senators spotlighted by the New York Times in a piece on first-time New York senators.[17]
2024 congressional election
editIn May 2023, Kaplan announced she would run for Congress in New York's 3rd congressional district, seeking to succeed George Santos in either the 2024 election or a special election if Santos were to resign or be expelled from the House.[18][19]
Personal life
editKaplan and her husband, Darren, live in North Hills, New York,[20] and have two college-age daughters.[11]
References
edit- ^ Timothy Bolger (December 17, 2018). "Long Island Upsets Usher In State Senate Firsts". longislandpress. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ "Big LI wins help Democrats take control of NY Senate". Newsday. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ Cortellessa, Eric. "Once a refugee from Iran, a Jewish state senator ascends in New York politics". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c. "About Anna M. Kaplan". www.nysenate.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ Sam Kestenbaum (June 27, 2016). "Meet the Iranian Jew Who's Running for Congress — Despite the Donald Trump Trolls". The Forward.
- ^ a b "Anna Kaplan profile". dev2.iawfoundation.org/. Iranian American Women Foundation. Retrieved January 15, 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b San Antonio, Bill. "North Hempstead councilwoman Anna Kaplan touts record in re-election campaign". Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ Zendrian, Alexandra (November 9, 2011). "Kaplan Wins North Hempstead Town Council Race – Port Washington, NY Patch". Portwashington.patch.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ Hopper, Justin (October 29, 2015). "Meet the Candidates for District Council 4". The Roslyn News. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ "Councilwoman Anna M. Kaplan (4th District)". Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Jacoby, Sheri Jacoby. "Anna Kaplan To Run For Congress". Great Neck Record. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ Brady, Ryan. "Tom Suozzi wins Democratic primary". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Milan, Rashed; Twarowski, Christopher. "Suozzi Wins Israel's Vacant Seat, LI's Congressional Incumbents Re-elected". Long Island Press. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Jacoby, Sheri Jacoby. "Anna Kaplan To Run For State Senate". Port Washington News. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Clausen, Janelle. "President Obama endorses Kaplan in contested state Senate race". Blank Slate Media. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ 2018 Election Results, General Election Results -- *Certified --December 14, 2018*, New York State Board of Elections, retrieved December 30, 2018
- ^ Wang, Vivian; McKinley, Jesse (January 11, 2019). ""They Won Senate Seats. Now Comes the Hard Part: Adjusting to Albany." New York Times, January 11, 2019". The New York Times.
- ^ Lane, Laura; Sheeline, Will (May 7, 2023). "Former State Senator Anna Kaplan plans to run against Representative George Santos". Long Island Herald.
- ^ Coltin, Jeff; Destra, Shantel (May 17, 2023). "The Democrats positioning for a special election in George Santos' district". City and State New York.
- ^ "Anna M. Kaplan". Newsday. Retrieved April 16, 2023.