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Candidates in NYC's wealthiest district set to debate in race to replace Rep. Jerry Nadler
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Jun 9, 2026
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Photos courtesy of congressional campaigns
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Jun 9, 2026
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Five candidates for the open seat in New York’s Upper East and West Side congressional district will face off Tuesday night in the final broadcast debate before the Democratic primary.
Polls show a tight race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, with heavy spending by outside Super PACs in the city's wealthiest congressional district.
The debate is being co-hosted by WNYC and Spectrum News NY1 at Baruch College. The candidates for New York's 12th Congressional district are Upper West Side Assemblymember Micah Lasher, Upper East Side Assemblymember Alex Bores, former Republican turned anti-Trump Democrat George Conway, social media influencer and Kennedy scion Jack Schlossberg, and public health expert Nina Schwalbe.
The contest has become something of a proxy war in the national debate over how to regulate AI technology. Federal campaign finance data shows a Super PAC with ties to AI venture capital investor Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI has allocated over $10 million to oppose Bores.
Bores was a key architect of the New York RAISE Act, which required developers of large AI models to publish comprehensive safety plans. Super PACs advocating for more government regulation of AI have committed over $8 million toward supporting Bores, according to the most recent federal data.
Much of the district’s Democratic political establishment has lined up behind Lasher, who worked for both Nadler and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Both have endorsed Lasher.
Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, rose to prominence through his irreverent and often bizarre social media presence. Schlossberg pitches himself as part of a new generation of political leadership better suited to stand up to President Trump.
Conway was an influential “Never Trump” Republican who used to be married to Trump’s campaign manager and advisor, Kellyanne Elizabeth Conway. He is now running as a Democrat and has made opposition to Trump the main focus of his campaign.
In contrast, Schwalbe has struggled to break through the noise generated by what she’s called the “four dudes.” Schwalbe led public health programs for the United Nations and the U.S. government, but has only a fraction of the fundraising and political infrastructure of her opponents.
The 90-minute debate will begin at 7 p.m. and air on WNYC and Spectrum News NY1. WNYC host Brian Lehrer, WNYC senior politics reporter Brigid Bergin, and NY1 political anchor Errol Louis will moderate. The debate will be streamed on YouTube.
The primary is June 23.
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Walter Wuthmann
Walter Wuthmann is a reporter covering public safety and the legal system.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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