Executive Summary
- Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, is running for the U.S. House seat in New York’s 12th District.
- He is seeking to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, making him the first direct descendant of JFK to seek elected office.
- In his announcement, Schlossberg criticized President Donald Trump, citing economic and constitutional crises.
- The 32-year-old Democrat is positioning himself as a voice for a new generation and faces a potentially crowded primary field.
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, has announced he is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 12th Congressional District. Schlossberg, a Democrat, is seeking to replace the retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler and becomes the first direct descendant of JFK to run for elected office.
In a video announcing his campaign, Schlossberg stated the “country is at a turning point,” and leveled criticism against President Donald Trump. He cited a “cost-of-living crisis,” cuts to social programs, and a “constitutional crisis,” accusing the president of engaging in “cronyism, not capitalism” from the Oval Office.
Schlossberg, 32, emphasized his local roots in the district, which covers parts of Manhattan. He presents himself as a representative of “a new generation” and has become known for his unorthodox social media videos, which he believes will help him connect with younger voters in a “toxic polluted media environment.”
While his campaign announcement does not directly mention his famous lineage, Schlossberg told reporters he would pay homage to his grandfather “organically.” Three generations of his family have served in elected office, including his great-uncles Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. Schlossberg has been an outspoken critic of his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently serves as President Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, calling him a “threat to public health.”
The race to succeed Nadler is expected to draw a competitive field. Declared candidates include Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who is reportedly backed by Nadler, and Liam Elkind, an organizer. Other potential candidates include former Rep. Carolyn Maloney and activist Cameron Kasky, a survivor of the Parkland High School shooting.