SUMMARY
- Nancy Pelosi endorses Jack Schlossberg, inserting herself into a competitive Democratic primary
- The endorsement elevates an outsider candidate in New York’s safely Democratic Twelfth District
- The race highlights generational change and tensions over experience within the party
WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to endorse Jack Schlossberg, a first time congressional candidate and the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, in the race for New York’s Twelfth Congressional District, according to three people familiar with the decision.
The rare primary endorsement by Pelosi, who is retiring next January, adds national weight to one of the most closely watched Democratic contests in Manhattan.
The endorsement, expected to be made public Sunday, marks an unusual move for Pelosi, a California Democrat known for avoiding intraparty contests.
Her backing could reshape the dynamics of a crowded field competing to succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is retiring after thirty four years representing a district that includes Times Square, Central Park and the United Nations.
Schlossberg, thirty three, entered the race in November following Nadler’s announcement. Nadler, former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has endorsed Micah Lasher, a New York state assembly member and longtime aide.
Lasher, forty four, has emphasized legislative experience and party relationships as central to his campaign. The Twelfth District is among the most affluent and reliably Democratic seats in the nation, making the June primary the decisive contest.
Other candidates include state Assembly Member Alex Bores, broadcast journalist Jami Floyd and attorney George Conway, a former Republican who has since aligned with Democrats.
Pelosi has personal and political ties to the Kennedy family. Her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., chaired John F. Kennedy’s Maryland campaign before serving as Baltimore mayor.
In two thousand twenty, she endorsed Joseph P. Kennedy III in a Democratic primary against Sen. Edward J. Markey, a rare intervention that ended in defeat.
Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Pelosi’s move signals confidence in Schlossberg’s national appeal.
“When a figure like Pelosi steps into a primary, it tells donors and activists that the candidate is seen as viable beyond the district,” Sabato said.
Michele Swers, a political science professor at Georgetown University, noted that Pelosi’s endorsement may also test voter attitudes toward celebrity lineage versus experience.
“This race puts dynastic recognition up against traditional credentials, and Pelosi is betting that energy and communication skills matter in today’s media environment,” Swers said.
Schlossberg called Pelosi “a hero” and said her support brings “a shot of adrenaline” to his campaign. Pelosi said in a statement that Schlossberg’s candidacy “will help Democrats win nationwide.”
Lasher has argued that experience should guide voters. In a September interview, Nadler said his successor should have “a record of public service,” a critique that has framed the debate within the primary.
Pelosi’s endorsement is expected to accelerate fundraising and national attention, though it does not guarantee victory.
With several months before the primary, candidates are likely to sharpen contrasts around governance, temperament and representation. Party leaders say turnout among younger voters could play a decisive role.
As Nancy Pelosi endorses Jack Schlossberg, the New York race reflects broader questions facing Democrats about leadership, legacy and renewal.
The outcome will shape not only one Manhattan district but also signals about how experience and visibility are weighed in the party’s next generation.
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