NEW YORK — The race to replace longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler is already drawing speculation of a dynastic showdown, but one famous name is officially out.
Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said Wednesday she is not considering a campaign for New York’s 12th congressional district.
A spokesperson for the 45-year-old dismissed reports of her interest in the seat, which Nadler, 78, announced he would vacate earlier this week after more than three decades in Congress.
Clinton has long faced questions about whether she would follow her parents into politics but has consistently demurred. Back in 2019, she told The View she had no plans to run for Rep. Nita Lowey’s open seat in a neighboring district. Instead, Clinton has devoted recent years to global health advocacy and co-authoring books, often alongside her mother.
A Kennedy Steps Forward?
While Clinton is staying out, another American political dynasty may step in. Jack Schlossberg, 32 — the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and son of Caroline Kennedy — told The New York Times his candidacy is “certainly a possibility.”
Schlossberg, a lawyer and social media personality, would be the first Kennedy to seek office since Joe Kennedy III left the House in 2020 to unsuccessfully challenge Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts.
A run would put him in the heart of Manhattan politics, as the 12th district encompasses parts of New York City.
Nadler’s Exit
Nadler’s decision not to run again ends a 32-year tenure that saw him rise to chair the powerful House Judiciary Committee and play a central role in the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump during his first term.
“For more than 32 years, I have had the honor of serving the people of New York in the United States Congress,” Nadler said in a statement. “This decision has not been easy. But I know in my heart it is the right one and that it is the right time to pass the torch to a new generation.”
Speaking to The Times, Nadler also invoked President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside in 2024 as part of a larger call for generational change within the Democratic Party.
Early Maneuvering
Several names are already being floated. Nadler praised his former aide, state Assemblyman Micah Lasher, though he stopped short of endorsing him. Former Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan has already ruled out a run.
The contest is expected to be fiercely competitive. With Clinton out, and Schlossberg mulling a bid, the stage may be set for a race that could test the enduring power of political legacies in one of the nation’s most closely watched districts.
