Jack Schlossberg, the 32-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy, has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run for the New York City congressional seat being vacated by Representative Jerrold Nadler, according to a report by Axios.
Nadler, a Democrat who has represented Manhattan’s Upper West Side for more than 30 years, announced this week that he will not seek re-election and said he believed the party needed generational change. Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy, is a Harvard and Yale graduate who has been active in progressive politics and in media work, and he spoke on the second night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Schlossberg has used social media to build a public profile, posting on platforms such as Instagram and X and polling followers about whether to run. He has worked as a political correspondent at Vogue and spoken publicly on Democratic Party politics. He has also been publicly critical of his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently serves as President Donald Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services, and has made pointed comments on social media that have drawn attention.
Nadler, 78, said in an interview that events surrounding former President Joe Biden’s debate performance last year influenced his decision to step down. "Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that," Nadler told The New York Times. In a statement issued by his office announcing his departure, Nadler said, "This decision has not been easy. But I know in my heart it is the right one and that it is the right time to pass the torch to a new generation."
In a separate interview with CNN, Nadler addressed the prospect of a Kennedy holding his seat and commented specifically on Schlossberg. "There’s nothing particularly good or bad about a Kennedy holding my seat. But the Kennedy, unlike Schlossberg, should be somebody with a record of public service, a record of public accomplishment, and he doesn’t have one," Nadler said.
Political operatives and activists in New York have already begun sizing up the open seat. Chelsea Clinton has been mentioned as a potential contender in public discussion, and a number of local Democrats are exploring bids or have been floated by party insiders. Among those who have shown interest or been named by others are 26-year-old community organizer Liam Elkind, who pushed Nadler to retire and launched a primary bid this summer; Assemblymember Micah Lasher, a former Nadler aide; former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan; investor Whitney Tilson; actor and activist Cynthia Nixon; and attorney Tali Farhadian.
New York City politics have trended toward younger, more progressive figures in recent years, a shift that Nadler cited as part of his reasoning. Elected officials such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani have been prominent examples of that generational and ideological change within the city’s Democratic politics.
Schlossberg’s supporters say his family name and public profile could mobilize donors and volunteers. Critics and some elected officials have pointed to his limited record of elective or executive public service as a potential weakness in a competitive Democratic primary for the heavily Democratic Manhattan district.
If Schlossberg formally files, the race is expected to draw significant attention both inside and outside New York, with multiple Democrats already preparing campaigns or considering entries. The primary calendar for next year will set the timetable for filings and debates, and the open-seat contest could become an early test of the party’s direction in one of the country’s most closely watched urban districts.
Campaign filings and formal announcements will make clear whether Schlossberg becomes an official candidate or remains exploratory while other contenders organize. Nadler’s office and Schlossberg’s team did not immediately provide further comment beyond the reports and public statements surrounding the retirement and the exploratory committee.