Micah Lasher Wins Democratic Primary For New York's 12th District
State Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the crowded Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, putting him on track to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler.[1]
Lasher, who represents Assembly District 69, carried endorsements from Rep. Jerry Nadler, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Kathy Hochul.[1] The Manhattan-centered district covers the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Midtown and drew roughly $26 million in advertising, making the primary one of the nation's costliest.[1] Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of John F. Kennedy, lost in the crowded field while conservative lawyer George Conway drew about 6 percent of the vote.[2]
Rep. Jerry Nadler announced on September 1, 2025, that he would not seek re-election, creating a rare open-seat contest in Manhattan. Lasher, a former Nadler aide and senior state official, moved early to seek the seat and secured Nadler's endorsement.[3] The full Democratic primary field included Alex Bores, Nina Schwalbe, Christopher Diep, Laura Dunn and Patrick Timmins.[1] Alex Bores' campaign turned into a proxy fight over state AI regulation after he helped push New York's RAISE Act, drawing millions in opposition spending from tech-aligned super PACs.[4]
Because the district leans heavily Democratic, Lasher is expected to be the strong favorite in November's general election to succeed Nadler.[1]
The mainstream summary does not mention the Cook Partisan Voter Index of D+33 for New York's 12th Congressional District, which indicates a significant Democratic lean compared to national averages. This context suggests that Lasher's victory, while notable, was largely expected given the district's political landscape, as major election forecasters have rated the upcoming general election as Solid/Safe Democratic. This contrasts with the mainstream framing that implies a more competitive primary race.
Additionally, social media insights reveal that Lasher's campaign faced challenges from anti-Israel sentiments and significant spending from tech interests, particularly in relation to AI regulation. These factors highlight the complexities of his victory that the mainstream summary overlooks, including the role of institutional Democratic backing and the implications of his rebuke of tech companies in his victory speech. This adds layers to the narrative of his candidacy that go beyond mere endorsements and financial backing, suggesting a more contentious political environment than presented in the summary.
Show source details & analysis (5 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
New York's 12th Congressional District has a Cook Partisan Voter Index of D+33, meaning its presidential election results were 33 percentage points more Democratic than the national average based on the 2024 and 2020 elections.
New York's 12th Congressional District — Ballotpedia
Major election forecasters rated the 2026 general election in New York's 12th Congressional District as Solid/Safe Democratic. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/New_York%27s_12th_Congressional_District_election,_2026_(June_23_Democratic_primary)))
New York's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 23 Democratic primary) — Ballotpedia
📌 Key Facts
- State Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the crowded Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
- New York's 12th District covers much of Manhattan — including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Midtown — and is described as one of the nation's wealthiest districts.
- New York State Assembly District 69 is the seat Lasher currently represents, covering Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley and parts of the Upper West Side.
- Rep. Jerry Nadler backed Lasher alongside former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Kathy Hochul, and national and city establishment Democrats celebrated the result as a counterpoint to the Mamdani slate.
- The full Democratic primary field included Micah Lasher, Alex Bores, George Conway, Christopher Diep, Laura Dunn, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Patrick Timmins.
- Per AdImpact data, roughly $26 million was spent on advertising in the NY-12 primary, making it one of the most expensive congressional primaries in the country.
- Alex Bores saw his campaign become a proxy fight over state-level AI regulation after helping push New York's RAISE Act, which drew millions in opposition spending from tech-aligned super PACs.
- Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy and a Vogue correspondent known for quirky social-media posts, lost the primary to Lasher, while conservative lawyer George Conway received only about 6% of the vote.
- Because the district is solidly Democratic, the Democratic primary winner is expected to be heavily favored in the November general election to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- PBS/AP confirms that on June 23, 2026, state Assembly member Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary for Rep. Jerry Nadler's open Manhattan seat in a field that included Jack Schlossberg, George Conway and Alex Bores.
- The article notes that national and city establishment Democrats "celebrated" Lasher's victory as a counterpoint to Mamdani's left-wing slate and that Zohran Mamdani pointedly made no endorsement in this race.
- It highlights Jack Schlossberg's defeat as a failed attempt to extend the Kennedy family political legacy, describing how his bid to "write his own chapter in Camelot lore" fell short.
- The BBC article reports that Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, lost the Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District to Assemblymember Micah Lasher on June 23, 2026.
- It notes that Schlossberg, a political newcomer and Vogue correspondent, is known for "quirky" social media posts, adding texture on a defeated candidate but not changing the core result.
- The piece confirms that conservative lawyer George Conway, a founder of the Lincoln Project, also ran in NY-12 and received only about 6% of the vote.
- The report states that Zohran Mamdani made no endorsement in the NY-12 race, distinguishing this contest from the three Mamdani-backed wins elsewhere in the city.
- Fox News confirms on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, that Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, defeating George Conway, Jack Schlossberg and Alex Bores in a crowded field.
- The article emphasizes that the race drew national attention because Nadler has represented the Manhattan seat since 1992 and his retirement created a rare open-seat contest.
- It highlights that Alex Bores' campaign became a proxy fight over state-level AI regulation after he helped push New York's RAISE Act, drawing millions in opposition spending from tech-aligned super PACs.
- The piece underlines that Lasher had backing from Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and frames his victory as evidence that local institutional support can outweigh higher national name recognition.
- Fox notes Lasher will be heavily favored in November's general election in the solidly Democratic district covering the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown and Chelsea.
- CBS News projected on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, that State Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the crowded Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District.
- The article specifies that New York's 12th District includes much of Manhattan, covering the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Midtown, and notes it is one of the nation's wealthiest districts.
- Lasher currently represents New York State Assembly District 69, which includes Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley and parts of the Upper West Side.
- CBS notes endorsements for Lasher from Rep. Jerry Nadler, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
- The piece lists the full Democratic primary field as Micah Lasher, Alex Bores, George Conway, Christopher Diep, Laura Dunn, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Patrick Timmins.
- AdImpact data cited by CBS says approximately $26 million was spent on advertising in the NY-12 primary, making it one of the most expensive congressional primaries in the country.
- The article underscores that Tuesday's Democratic primary winner is favored in November because of the district's strong Democratic lean.