Franklin Concedes District 7 Election, Congratulates Sen. Kaplan

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Dave Franklin, the Republican challenger in the Senate District 7 election, has conceded against incumbent Democratic state Sen. Anna Kaplan.

A spokesman for Kaplan confirmed the news to Patch in a text message Tuesday afternoon.

Kaplan, of Great Neck, said in a statement she received a phone call from Franklin.

"This afternoon I received a call from Dave Franklin, who graciously called to concede and to offer his congratulations on my re-election," Kaplan said. "We had a nice chat, and I thanked him for his call and for running a spirited campaign."

Kaplan has received nearly 78,000 votes, or 56 percent, as of Tuesday evening, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections website. Franklin tallied about 62,000 votes.

Franklin told Patch in a statement he called Kaplan Tuesday afternoon to concede the race and congratulate her on her win.

"Sadly, the absentee vote count fell far short of my expectations and hopes, and it was time to bow out," Franklin said. "There are so many people to thank for their help and hard work, as my team and I far exceeded the expectations of the pundits. In the end we will have amassed 60,000 votes. As a candidate unknown outside of Port Washington that is humbling to me. Perhaps even more humbling is the fact that we had 80 volunteers making calls, doing lit drops at homes and planting signs all over the district."

Franklin added: "I had fun campaigning, meeting people all throughout the district as we knocked on doors to find out what the needs of the public were. The fellow candidates I encountered along the way who are now friends. This was a great experience for me, and though it didn’t turn out the way we planned we left everything on the field. No regrets, no second guessing. Thanks to all who voted, volunteered, supported and prayed for me. You are forever in my heart."

Franklin said this is the time to put away what he called "petty differences of politics" and work together for a better community and district.

See also: New York Senate District 7 Candidates: Meet Anna Kaplan

District 7 includes parts of Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset, Roslyn, Old Westbury, Westbury, Lake Success, Mineola, Floral Park, Elmont, New Cassel, New Hyde Park and Hicksville.

Kaplan was born in Iran to a Jewish family, according to her Senate biography. Her parents sent her on her own to the United States for safety during the Islamic Revolution. She arrived in Brooklyn and was sent to live with a foster family in Chicago where she learned English and completed high school. Kaplan was later granted political asylum by the U.S. government.

After her family reunited, they moved to Queens, New York, where Kaplan graduated from Yeshiva University Stern College for Women, and later Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She settled in Great Neck with her husband and two daughters. In 2011, Kaplan was elected as Town of North Hempstead councilwoman in District 4. She won election to the state Senate two years ago, making her the first political refugee and the first Iranian-American elected to the state Senate.