Republican Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz formally declared his candidacy for New York’s 7th State Senate District on Monday, stepping into the race after state Sen. Jack Martins announced he would not seek re-election.
Martins declined the Republican nomination on Friday, reversing an earlier indication that he would run again. Friday was the final day to withdraw from the race.
“Our community is home to a legacy of leadership, the kind that steps into the arena with conviction and doesn't back down for political expediency,” the 29-year old said in a video announcement posted to X on Tuesday. “That kind of leadership is necessary now more than ever in Albany.”
Blumencranz first entered elected office in 2022, when he defeated Democrat Amanda Field for the Assembly seat and was sworn in at the start of 2023.
In an interview following his announcement, Blumencranz said the decision to seek the Senate seat came after Martins’ withdrawal and conversations about expanding the message he has carried in the Assembly.
“I was running for the New York State Assembly because we still have a lot of work to do in Albany,” Blumencranz said. “We still have real issue with affordability, with crime, with some of the policies that came out of Albany, and with the decision by Senator Martins to no longer seek office, I was asked if we would like to amplify our message and continue our fight in the State Senate.”
He added that the overlap between the Assembly and Senate districts would allow him to continue serving many of the same residents while reaching a broader constituency.
Blumencranz said affordability and public safety remain central to his campaign platform, echoing themes from his prior races.
“The overwhelming and burdensome regulations, the high taxes, they're strangling our small businesses,” he said. “They're leading to trickle down costs to everyday families.”
He also pointed to rising utility costs and state environmental mandates as issues he intends to address if elected to the upper chamber.
A younger voice in Albany, Blumencranz said he believes his age offers a perspective that is often lacking in state government, particularly on issues involving technology, education and the future of Long Island.
“I think we need more young people in politics,” he said.
Blumencranz also emphasized his commitment to working across party lines, saying effective representation in Albany requires bipartisan cooperation.
“If you're not, you'll never get anything done in Albany,” he said.
