A competitive race is shaping up in Nassau County's 7th State Senate District, where Democrat Rory Lancman is facing off against Republican Jake Blumencranz for an open seat representing the county's North Shore.

The seat is open because State Sen. Jack Martins is retiring at the end of the year, setting up a closely watched contest between two candidates with different backgrounds and priorities.

Lancman, a former Queens state assemblyman and New York City councilman, moved to Great Neck in 2021 and currently serves on the board of directors of Nassau University Medical Center. He said his campaign is focused on tackling Long Island's affordability challenges.

"There's a saying in life and it's certainly true in politics. If you're not at the table, you're on the menu," Lancman said.

Lancman pointed to his experience in government as a reason voters should support his candidacy, arguing that state government can do more to reduce the cost of living on Long Island.

"Given my experience in government, both as an elected official and as an appointed official overseeing how our tax money is spent in different scenarios and situations, I know that government can be doing more to lower the cost of living for those of us living on Long Island. And that's what I'm going to do," Lancman said.

Blumencranz, a two-term state Assemblyman from Oyster Bay, said his campaign is centered on public safety and highlighted what he describes as a record of accomplishments in Albany.

"My first year in office, I came in and I protected homeowners against squatters. My second year in office, I protected and defended our communities, our local control of our school districts by ending the regionalization conversation. My third year, I defended our children from deepfakes. This is a record built on our community's needs," Blumencranz said.

The 7th District is a rare swing district in the State Senate. It has elected both Republicans and Democrats over the past two decades.

Lancman argues the district would be better served by a Democrat serving in the State Senate's majority conference. Blumencranz disagrees, and Republicans have sought to tie Lancman to New York City politics and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Lancman rejected those comparisons.

"No one has been more critical of Zohran Mamdani and what he represents than I have. I'm deeply opposed to socialism, and I'm certainly opposed to anti-Semitism," Lancman said.

Blumencranz said voters should choose a candidate with a proven track record on Long Island.

"The last thing we need on Long Island is another New York City Democrat sitting in a seat that belongs to Long Islanders," Blumencranz said.