Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, joins race to replace Nadler in Congress

Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, confirmed Wednesday that he is running for Congress in New York’s 12th District, entering a growing Democratic field to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler.

Schlossberg, 32, described himself as a fifth-generation New Yorker and lifelong Democrat, running to help address what he called a national “crisis on every level.”

After forming an exploratory committee in September, Schlossberg, the son of Ambassador Caroline Kennedy (JFK’s daughter) and designer Edwin Schlossberg, confirmed he had officially entered the race late Tuesday.

“It’s a cost-of-living crisis fueled by the president’s so-called ‘big beautiful bill,’ the biggest cut to social programs in history. A corruption crisis as the president rakes in cash while carving up our government and selling it to the highest bidder,” he said in a statement. “And it’s a constitutional crisis — one man is in control of all three branches of government, using his power to suspend civil rights, silence dissent, and send armed forces into our cities.”

“The future of our country is at stake,” Schlossberg continued. “We can do better. The Democratic Party must win back the House of Representatives and elect a new generation of leaders.”

Nadler, 78, announced in September that he will not seek re-election after 17 terms in Congress, saying it was the “right time to pass the torch to a new generation.” His district covers Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Midtown neighborhoods.

The race to succeed Nadler is expected to be one of the most competitive Democratic primaries next year. Manhattan Assemblymembers Micah Lasher and Alex Bores have already announced campaigns for the seat, while City Council Member Erik Bottcher is still exploring a run.

In recent years, Schlossberg has carved out a name for himself as a high-profile Democrat on the national stage, thanks in part to a somewhat unconventional approach to social media.

As an online figure, the 32-year-old has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, as well as his cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, best known for his vaccine skeptic views, which are largely based on scientifically disproven arguments linking vaccinations to autism or medical problems.

In an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday, Schlossberg said President Trump was “so obsessed” with the Kennedy family’s legacy that he “caged one and put it in his cabinet,” referring to RFK. Jr., who he called a “rabid dog” that was “spreading lies and misinformation.”

A graduate of Yale University with degrees in law and business from Harvard, Schlossberg worked briefly at the U.S. Department of State in 2016 and served as a political commentator for Vogue magazine in 2024. He also represented New York at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Schlossberg said he plans to spend the coming months meeting voters throughout the district. “I hope to meet as many New Yorkers as I can, listen to their stories, amplify their voices, and earn their trust,” he said.

“Our campaign is for the young at heart, the strong in spirit, and anyone who thinks we deserve better,” he added.