JFK’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, launches a Democrat congressional bid with incendiary attacks on President Trump, claiming he’s suspending civil rights and deploying armed forces in cities.
Story Highlights
- Jack Schlossberg enters crowded Democrat primary for Manhattan’s 12th Congressional District.
- The campaign launch features inflammatory anti-Trump rhetoric about suspended civil rights.
- Race occurs amid Democrat Socialism under incoming NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
- Kennedy family political dynasty continues with potential seventh member in Congress.
Kennedy Heir Enters Manhattan Race
Jack Schlossberg, 32, announced his Democrat primary bid for New York’s 12th Congressional District on November 12, 2025. The Yale and Harvard Law graduate seeks to replace retiring Representative Jerrold Nadler in representing Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and Midtown areas.
This overwhelmingly Democrat district ranks among the nation’s wealthiest and geographically smallest congressional seats, virtually guaranteeing the primary winner will serve in Congress.
NEW: Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg), JFK's grandson, launches New York congressional bid https://t.co/eOpVVLPW4y
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) November 12, 2025
Anti-Trump Campaign Launch Strategy
Schlossberg’s campaign announcement centered on attacking President Trump with alarming accusations. His statement claimed Trump is “using his power to suspend civil rights, silence dissent, and send armed forces into our cities.”
The campaign messaging warns that “America is in crisis” and calls for Democrats to “win back the House of Representatives.” This inflammatory rhetoric appears designed to energize progressive voters who view Trump’s presidency as an existential threat to democracy.
Democrat Socialist Influence Complicates Primary
The congressional race unfolds amid significant ideological shifts within New York’s Democrat Party. Incoming NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, represents the progressive movement’s growing influence.
The Democrat Socialists of America are actively considering expanded political engagement throughout the city and state. This leftward drift creates challenges for traditional Democrats like Schlossberg, who must navigate between establishment credentials and progressive demands for more radical policies.
Crowded Primary Field Takes Shape
Despite his famous surname and political pedigree, Schlossberg faces competitive opposition in the Democrat primary. Assemblyman Micah Lasher, a former aide to Nadler and other prominent Democrats, already entered the race with establishment support.
City Councilman Erik Bottcher is reportedly considering a bid from within the district. Other high-profile Democrats, including former FTC head Lina Khan and Chelsea Clinton, declined to run, potentially clearing space for lesser-known candidates to emerge.
Kennedy Political Dynasty Continues
A Schlossberg victory would extend the Kennedy family’s congressional representation to seven members across multiple generations. His grandfather JFK won his first House seat at 29, three years younger than Jack’s current age.
The family’s political legacy includes Robert F. Kennedy’s New York Senate service, Edward Kennedy’s Massachusetts tenure, and multiple House representatives, including Joseph Kennedy II and III.
Notably, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now serves as Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, creating an unusual political divide within the extended Kennedy family.
