Daniel Norber, a 45-year-old dual US-Israeli citizen, has made history by becoming the first Republican elected to a state assembly seat in northern Hempstead, LI in over 50 years. He will occupy the Nassau County seat previously held by Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Norber’s victory was attributed in part to the support he received from President-elect Donald Trump, who carried the 16th Assembly District by over 2,000 votes over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Narrowly defeating two-term Democratic incumbent Gina Silitti, Norber won in a district with a significant Jewish population, including areas like Great Neck, Manhasset, and Port Washington. The issue of antisemitism played a major role in the campaign, with Norber, who is Jewish, taking it to heart. His personal connection to the situation was highlighted by his experience being in Israel when the terror group Hamas attacked, forcing him and his family into a bomb shelter. This experience further emphasized the importance of preventing such atrocities from happening in the US.
Reflecting on events such as an act of vandalism at a local Jewish center and political staff members criticizing Israel on social media, Norber highlighted his opponent’s lack of sensitivity to these issues. Raised to understand the values of service, sacrifice, and freedom by his parents, who themselves had experiences with the Holocaust and fleeing communism, Norber was driven to make a change. Born in the US and raised in Israel, he served in the Israel Defense Force as a staff sergeant in the military police.
As he prepares to serve in the 150-seat state Assembly, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, Norber outlined his priorities which include repealing cashless bail, cutting taxes, and implementing a state mask ban to prevent lawbreakers from hiding their identities during protests. He believes in working across party lines for the benefit of the people and is confident in his ability to find common ground with Democrats. Anticipating his time in office, Norber aims to address pressing issues affecting the community and uphold values of safety, justice, and unity.
