State Senate District 7 candidate Kim Keiserman has garnered a slew of endorsements from local officials, both past and present, and community leaders as she heads toward the June primary.
“I’m incredibly humbled by the support and excitement we’ve built around this campaign to give District 7 a real seat at the table in the state Senate,” Keiserman said. “We’ve proven that, when Democrats are unified, we have what it takes to flip the script on the Nassau County GOP machine. This district deserves leadership that will help build a safer, more affordable, and more welcoming community for all. The momentum is clearly on our side, and we are only just getting started.”
Port Washington resident Keiserman is running on the Democratic Party line in a bid to replace state Sen. Jack Martins, a Republican.
Keiserman is opposed for the Democratic nomination by former Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, who was ousted from his seat after losing to Republican Samantha Goetz in November.
Efforts to reach Lafazan for comment were unavailing. Lafazan will be hosting a campaign “hometown fundraiser” Thursday evening at Chris and Tony’s in Syosset.
The district, which includes much of the North Shore and the Town of Oyster Bay as far east as Woodbury, is currently represented by Martins, who flipped the district in 2022.
Keiserman’s endorsers include state Assemblymember Gina Sillitti, former state Sen. Anna Kaplan, Democratic National Committeeman Robert Zimmerman, Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Christine Liu, former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead Democratic Leader Wayne Wink, former North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman and community leader Weihua Yan.
“As the former state senator representing District 7, I am proud to endorse Democrat Kim Keiserman for state Senate because of her unwavering commitment to our community and her strong track record of grassroots advocacy on Long Island,” Kaplan said. “I know Kim will fight for better schools, reproductive freedom, sensible gun laws, and more affordable communities.”
Silliti called Keiserman the “capable partner” she needs to serve alongside her in Albany, touting her ability to unify people, deliver money to communities and advocate for legislation.
“Kim Keiserman is the leader Nassau County needs right now in the New York State Senate,” Zimmerman said. “She’s been a tireless fighter for our local communities. Kim’s groundbreaking work as an education advocate, an environmental leader and her leadership of the Port Washington Democratic Club demonstrates that Kim knows how to bring people together and get results.”
The announcement of endorsements from 10 past and present local officials comes a month after raising over $500,000 in her campaign’s first 25 days. This is the maximum a campaign can raise to receive the state’s total available matching funds.
Keiserman serves as commissioner for the North Hempstead Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, works as an education consultant and is the chairwoman of the Baxter Estates Planning Board. She also is co-president of the Baxter’s Pond Foundation and president of the Port Washington Democratic Club.
She plans to advocate for increased public school funding, sensible gun policies and combatting climate change to “create a future that reflects shared aspirations and ensures a fair, inclusive, and prosperous Long Island for all,” her campaign said.
There are currently 63 state senators with Democrats holding a 42-21 advantage over Republicans.
The filing deadline for the state senate election is April 4.
The primary election for party nominees is June 25. The general election will then be held on Nov. 5.
