A Democratic state senator launched a bid Thursday to take back Rep. George Santos’ congressional seat with a video highlighting her Jewish heritage — and reminding voters of his lies about having a Jewish background.
The launch of Sen. Anna Kaplan effort to topple the Long Island Republican comes a day after he was hit with numerous federal fraud charges — and she made it clear she also plans to hit him hard for the many lies.
Her biggest focus was on Santos’ claim on his campaign website that his mother was Jewish and his grandparents escaped the Nazis during World War II — a statement he later later backtracked on, admitting he wasn’t a Jew but was merely “Jew-ish.”
“I’m running because George Santos is a disgrace,” Kaplan says in her new advertisement.
Born Jewish in Iran, Kaplan’s family fled the country when Islamists took over.
In the video, she recalled a shopkeeper telling her and her mom when she was a little girl not to touch the fruits and veggies because they were Jewish.
The video includes footage of her as a child in Iran.
“When the ayatollah took over the government, Jews had to flee. When I was 13, my parents had to make a difficult decision to put me on a plane to America, not knowing when they would get to see me again,” she said.
There’s a sizable Jewish population in the 3rd Congressional District that takes in Nassau County and northeastern Queens.
In a separate statement Thursday, Kaplan ripped Santos for trying to appeal to this community with lies about his background.
“Congressman George Santos claimed he was Jewish. He claimed his grandparents survived the Holocaust and that his mother survived the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City….I was born in Iran to a Jewish family,” she said, in a statement.
“My family faced religious persecution, so at age 13, my parents put me on a plane, not knowing when — or if — they’d see me again. I landed in New York and found a place where women had real rights and could determine their futures.”
She also noted in her video noted that President Biden carried the district over former President Donald Trump in 2020 and emphasized her record supporting abortion rights, gay rights and gun control while noting that Santos opposes abortion and wore an AK 47 pin on the House floor.
Democrats are salivating, sensing blood in the water with Santos facing federal fraud charges and refusing to resign.
Santos has admitted he lied on the campaign trail about his education and work experience.
Local Republican Party leaders said they want to dump Santos but haven’t yet named a candidate to nominate to run against him — assuming he’s not convicted of a crime before the election.
Other Democrats vying for Santos’ seat, in what could turn out to be a crowded primary, include Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan and St. John’s University law professor William Murphy.
Others are also expected to join the fray.
Santos had no immediate comment on Kaplan’s candidacy or her attacks on his claims of Jewish ancestry.
He told The Post in December that he’s “clearly Catholic,” but claimed his grandmother told stories about being Jewish and later converting to Catholicism.
“I never claimed to be Jewish,” said Santos, who clearly portrayed himself as Jewish during his campaign. “I am Catholic.
“Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition said Santos lied to them about his Jewish ancestry and said they want nothing to do with him.
Santos on Wednesday was charged with 13 counts of fraud, money laundering and other charges.
The allegations include embezzling $50,000 in campaign money for designer duds and personal expenses, cheating his way to COVID unemployment pay and lying to Congress about his income.
The openly gay Republican gay senator pleaded not guilty during his arraignment and defiantly called the indictment brought by US Attorney for the Easter District Breon Peace a “witch hunt.”
“I will not resign,” he told reporters.