A crowded field of candidates is vying to replace longtime Democrat Representative Jerry Nadler in New York’s 12th Congressional District after the veteran lawmaker announced his retirement, creating what one political expert called a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
More than a dozen Democrats have entered the race for the Manhattan-based district, which stretches from Union Square to the top of Central Park and includes some of the nation’s wealthiest neighborhoods and largest companies. Almost as many Republicans and independents have entered in the race, but because the district is heavily Democrat, the party’s June 23 primary is expected to effectively determine the eventual winner.
The Democratic contenders include Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and George Conway, the former husband of Kellyanne Conway and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project.
Nadler, 78, served more than 30 years in Congress and was elected 17 times. He also helped lead the first impeachment of President Donald Trump and said he is retiring to make room for the next generation.
“It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Charles Tien, a political science professor at Hunter College, said of the open seat.
The Democratic field has largely narrowed into two camps: candidates with celebrity appeal and those with traditional political experience. Schlossberg and Conway fall into the first category, while New York assemblymen Micah Lasher and Alex Bores represent the latter.
An Emerson College poll released May 21 showed Lasher leading with 22% support, followed by Bores at 20%. Schlossberg polled at 11% and Conway at 10%.
The candidates have largely united in opposition to Trump and his policies. Conway, 62, has discussed impeaching Trump and removing him from office.
“I’ve been fighting this man for years,” Conway said at a recent forum.
Schlossberg, 33, has campaigned on lowering costs, protecting the environment, and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed his candidacy.
Bores, 35, has become a polarizing figure in the artificial intelligence industry. A former software engineer who once worked for Palantir Technologies, Bores is campaigning to regulate AI aggressively. His candidacy has drawn opposition from some in the industry, including a co-founder of OpenAI, while others, including Anthropic, have backed him. Former Representative Carolyn Maloney endorsed Bores.
Lasher, 44, previously worked for Gov. Kathy Hochul, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Nadler before winning election to the state Assembly in 2024. Nadler and Bloomberg have both endorsed him, and Bloomberg has contributed $5 million to a pro-Lasher super PAC, according to disclosure filings.
The district is among the wealthiest in the country, with a median household income of $153,000, the highest of any congressional district in New York and fifth nationally. It includes neighborhoods such as Midtown, Chelsea, and the Upper East and Upper West sides, along with landmarks including the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway theaters, and Lincoln Center.
“Everyone knows this is like one of the gems of civilized society,” Cameron Kasky, a former candidate in the race who dropped out in January, said. “Everybody wants this seat. I would find it harder to explain how somebody could not want it.”
