A Long Island Republican state Assembly candidate for a heavily Jewish-populated district accused his Democratic opponent of “bankrolling” Israel haters in a new set of blistering attacks.
Republican David Hassid and the GOP sent out mailers and cut an ad going after rival Kim Keiserman, who donated $1,000 to Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and $500 to Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
“If you care about Israel and the U.S., you need to know Assembly candidate Kim Keiserman bankrolled the campaigns of anti-Israel candidates,” the Nassau GOP ad circulating on social media says.
Long Island GOP Assembly candidate David Hassid targeted Democrat Kim Keiserman over her past donations to Sen. Raphael Warnock and James Talarico. davidhassid4assembly/Instagram
Images appear of protesters burning the Israeli and American flag.
Keiserman donated to Warnock in August 2022 and to Talarico in October 2025.
“She donated to Sen. Raphael Warnock who voted to block critical aid to Israel. Keiserman funded James Talarico’s Senate campaign even though Talarico pledged to block aid to the Jewish State.
The ad closes with the narrator saying Hassid, currently a legislative aide, is the better choice to stand up for Israel and US.
The mailers are even more hard-hitting, saying, “Why did Kim Keiserman bankroll an antisemitic politician? It’s true.”
The piece sent to voters claimed that Warnock is antisemitic, referring to a 2018 sermon when the preacher slammed Israeli defense forces for shooting “unarmed Palestinian sisters and brothers.”
Hassid is the son of Iranian Jewish refugees who escaped persecution during Iran’s revolution.
His father escaped Iran on horseback in 1979. His family’s journey helped develop his understanding of oppression and his commitment to safeguarding Jewish communities and Israel’s security.
A Nassau GOP ad going viral on social media claims Keiserman donated $1,000 to Warnock and $500 to Talarico. Kim Keiserman/Facebook
“The choice in the race for the 16th Assembly District couldn’t be more stark,” said Hassid. “My opponent has put her personal finances behind politicians who have actively worked against the State of Israel – in word and in deed. As the son of parents who escaped religious persecution in Iran, I will never stand with the forces of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism. I will be a voice in the fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate.”
The victor will replace Republican Assemblyman Daniel Norber in the 16th Assembly District, who decided not to seek re-election.
The Nassau County district includes portions of the Town of North Hempstead, the Villages of Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manorhaven, Plandome Manor, and Saddle Rock, and the communities of Manhasset, Port Washington, Searingtown, and Williston Park.
Keiserman said the smear campaign will backfire.
“David Hassid has zero experience, no record, and no plan to bring down higher costs that have arisen from the policies he supports. So his handlers are spreading lies to cover for an empty suit,” Keiserman said in a statement.
“I’ve spent my career fighting bigotry and I’ve long stood with Long Island’s Jewish community against antisemitism and hate. In this time of surging antisemitism and hate crimes, exploiting their fears for political gain is disgraceful.”
A former teacher, the Port Washington resident said said she’s challenged Hassid to debate but he keeps “hiding behind dishonest mailers because he has no ideas to defend and nothing to offer our communities.”
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Nassau County Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs said the GOP is waging a “smear campaign” against Keiserman and other Dems because they want to distract from President’s Trump unpopular policies such as tariffs that have driven up prices.
“It’s ridiculous. Kim Keiserman and the other candidates we’re running are common sense Democrats,” said Jacobs, who also was recently re-elected as the state Democratic Party chairman.
“The Republicans don’t want to talk about their record because they can’t defend it.”