Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy and son of U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, has launched a bid for New York’s 12th Congressional District seat as Rep. Jerry Nadler prepares to retire. In a dramatic campaign announcement Tuesday, Schlossberg warned voters, “This is our last chance to stop Trump — it won’t come again,” positioning his campaign as a defining battle for the future of the Democratic Party.
His campaign platform features a 12-point “Promises to the People” pledge built around vague but upbeat values like “Unity,” “Creativity,” and “Patriotism.” The seat he’s pursuing spans some of Manhattan’s most powerful ZIP codes, from Union Square to the Upper West Side.
Schlossberg’s political résumé remains light. He has served as a surrogate for the Biden-Harris campaign, briefly worked at the State Department, and was appointed to the federal America 250 Commission by Sen. Chuck Schumer. However, he’s never held elected office and faces criticism from within his own party. Nadler, who has not endorsed a successor, said bluntly in September, “He doesn’t have a record of public service or accomplishment… he is not going to be a major candidate.”
Still, Schlossberg brings name recognition, a large social media following, and a bold, confrontational online persona. He has attracted headlines for inflammatory posts, including mocking Vice President JD Vance’s wife, attacking conservative pundits, and running polls comparing female politicians to his late grandmother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Despite the backlash, Schlossberg is entering a crowded primary featuring several established Democrats including State Assemblyman Micah Lasher, Assemblyman Alex Bores, and City Councilman Erik Bottcher.
His campaign reflects a resurgence of dynastic politics, echoing other family legacies like Christine Pelosi’s recent run in California. But in a district that leans heavily progressive, Schlossberg’s Kennedy heritage may not be enough to counter the competition or the criticism.
