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‘An extremely crowded race’: NYC Democrats angle for Rep. Jerry Nadler’s soon-open seat
By
Jon Campbell
Published Sep 2, 2025
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John Nacion/Deadline via Getty Images
By
Jon Campbell
Published Sep 2, 2025
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The race to represent one of New York City’s most coveted congressional districts has already begun.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, an Upper West Side Democrat first elected to Congress in 1992, has announced that he will not seek reelection next year, marking the end of an era in Manhattan politics. The 78-year-old held elected office for five decades. In a lengthy statement, the longtime lawmaker said it’s “the right time to pass the torch to a new generation.”
The new generation appears happy to oblige.
Nadler’s decision jump-started what is expected to be a highly competitive Democratic primary to succeed him in one of the nation’s highest-profile congressional districts, which includes the Upper East and West sides and all of Midtown.
Among the Manhattan Democrats kicking the tires on a possible campaign for Nadler’s seat are City Councilmember Erik Bottcher and state Assemblymember Alex Bores, according to three Democratic Party insiders who have been gauging candidates’ interest. Both men are decades Nadler’s junior.
Nadler, meanwhile, is likely to back 43-year-old Assemblymember Micah Lasher — a former Nadler aide — should he run, according to The New York Times. Liam Elkind, a 26-year-old Democrat, had previously announced a primary campaign, too.
Then there’s the possibility that a wild card could run, perhaps a big-name celebrity or a wealthy person who can self-fund a campaign, of which there are plenty in the district.
“ It will be an extremely crowded race,” Bores, 34, told Gothamist. “We have so much to do. This is not a time when the American people are waiting on business as usual, waiting on the local political club and machinations to decide who should be there.”
Bores did not shut the door on a run. He said he has been “humbled by the amount of calls that I’ve gotten since [Nadler’s] announcement.”
“I will be considering that at some point,” said Bores, a new father. “I’m very much focused on my two-and-a-half-week-old baby at the moment.”
It’s easy to understand why the district is so coveted by up-and-coming politicians, according to Lupe Todd-Medina, a Democratic political consultant based in New York City.
For one, the district itself boasts some of the nation’s most iconic landmarks, including Central Park, Times Square and the Empire State Building. For Democrats, there’s the added bonus of being the person to succeed Nadler — a New York City institution with national prominence as the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
“ Being in Congress in and of itself is prestigious,” Todd-Medina said. “But that particular seat coming after Congressman Nadler, would be an honor in and of itself.”
Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, worked as an aide and campaign manager for Nadler before succeeding him in the state Assembly in 1992. The 65-year-old, a Democrat who ran in the mayoral primary earlier this year, said he will not run for Nadler’s seat this time around.
“I believe that the next congressmember should fight like hell to continue Social Security,” Stringer said. “It should not be a person who is on Social Security.”
Another prominent Democrat who lives in the district is still running in the general election for mayor in November: former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo’s camp said the governor isn’t interested in Nadler’s seat.
“The only job that Andrew Cuomo wants is mayor to serve the people of New York City,” said Serena Roosevelt, a Cuomo campaign spokesperson.
Lasher did not return a request for comment, while Bottcher referred back to a statement praising Nadler. Other possible candidates, according to Democratic insiders who have been gauging support, include City Councilmember Julie Menin and former Biden-era Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, neither of whom immediately returned requests for comment.
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Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell covers the New York State Capitol for WNYC and Gothamist. Prior to that, he covered the Capitol for more than a decade for the USA TODAY Network. He has twice earned the Walter T. Brown Memorial Award, an honor given annually by the Legislative Correspondents Association alumni for outstanding state government coverage. Jon grew up in the Buffalo area and graduated from the University at Albany. Got a tip? Email Jon at [email protected] or Signal at JonCampbellNY.90.
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