state party decided to nominate Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro over conservative lawyer Ed Cox, even though Cox had raised over $1.3 million to Pirro's $400,000. There has not been a Republican primary for Senator since 1992. His platform included simplifying the tax code, lowering taxes, reducing government spending, Social Security private accounts, a strong national defense, and a no-nonsense approach toward Iran, Syria and North Korea. His platform advocated for school choice for "all parents, not just the rich". Benjamin supported banning partial-birth abortion, except for cases where the mother's life is at risk, and abolishing unfunded Medicaid mandates on municipalities. He also stated he wanted to bring jobs back to New York and limit government intervention in the economy. He espoused many very conservative opinions including support for the war in Iraq and supported both the Patriot Act and the inclusion of Iran as part of the Axis of Evil by President Bush. Electoral history Notes External links Benjamin for Senate 2004 Website, Archive of www.benjamin2004.com New York Times profile New York Benevolence Council Website, Archive of www.nybc.us Save New York Website, Archive of www.savenewyork.org National Iranian American Council 1969 births American financiers American investors American money managers Businesspeople in insurance American people of Honduran descent American politicians of Iranian descent Jewish American people in New York (state) politics Living people New York (state) Republicans New York University alumni Politicians from New York City Greenwich High School alumni 21st-century American Jews