Jewish politician files for congressional run against George Santos in New York
Democratic former state senator Anna Kaplan to challenge Republican incumbent who has been ostracized for his array of lies, including about his Jewish background
Luke Tress is a JTA reporter and a former editor and reporter in New York for The Times of Israel.
NEW YORK — Anna Kaplan, a Jewish politician from Long Island, on Monday filed to run against US Congressman George Santos in 2024.
Santos, a Republican, was exposed for lying about much of his background after being elected to Congress last year.
He has refused to step down despite polls showing his constituents overwhelmingly think he should resign and widespread condemnation from his own party.
His fabrications included falsely claiming to be Jewish and that his family survived the Holocaust.
Journalists have also uncovered other issues in his past, including criminal theft charges in Pennsylvania in 2017 and charges from years ago in Brazil, where he was accused of using a fraudulent check to buy apparel.
Santos filed to run for reelection last month, despite being under multiple investigations for his lies and alleged criminal activity.
Kaplan is a Democrat who represented New York’s 7th State Senate district between 2019 and January of this year, when she lost her seat to Republican challenger Jack Martins.
A filing with the Federal Election Commission showed she has registered her candidacy to challenge Santos for Congress in New York’s 3rd Congressional district. At least two other challengers have also thrown their hats in the ring to vie for Santos’s seat.
Shortly before leaving office, Kaplan had called for action against Santos at public rallies on Long Island.
“George Santos has perpetrated a complete and total fraud on our community,” Kaplan said in December, blasting local Republicans for having supported Santos. “Our entire community has been victimized, and we demand accountability.”
“We all deserve an apology for his reprehensible lies about his nonexistent Jewish faith and his completely fake connection to the Holocaust,” Kaplan said. “We all deserve answers, and we all deserve a chance to heal from this dark chapter.”
Kaplan came to the US as a Jewish refugee from Iran in 1979, and was involved in Jewish causes as a lawmaker, as well as Democratic party priorities such as gun control.
