Jack Schlossberg Launches Bid for Congress as He Works to Minimize RFK Jr.’s Impact on Kennedy Family Legacy

Jack Schlossberg Officially Enters Congressional Race Following Jerry Nadler’s Retirement

Jack Schlossberg has officially announced his bid for Congress after hinting at a potential run following longtime New York Representative Jerry Nadler’s decision to retire.

The 32-year-old declared his candidacy in an email to supporters on Tuesday, Nov. 11, and in an interview with The New York Times. Schlossberg said he believes a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives is essential to restore democratic values.

“There is nothing our party can’t do to address costs of living, corruption and the constitutional crisis that we’re in,” he told the outlet. “But without control of Congress, there’s almost nothing that we can do.”

Schlossberg — the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy — has built a strong online presence in recent years as he works to defend and modernize the Kennedy legacy.

His outspoken, often tongue-in-cheek approach to social media has drawn both criticism and admiration. From joking about whether second lady Usha Vance is “hotter” than his grandmother Jackie to posting introspective videos about heartbreak, Schlossberg has carved out a reputation as a polarizing yet attention-grabbing voice.

“I think that the internet is a place where it’s difficult to break through, and it’s difficult to break through especially if you’re not saying something that’s controversial or unexpected,” Schlossberg told MSNBC’s Jen Psaki in February. “Democrats don’t play that game as well as we could.”

Amid his humorous posts, Schlossberg often shares genuine political views that have resonated with younger Democrats searching for direction.

In July 2025, he launched his web series Test Drive, where he discusses news and pop culture topics from a black sprinter van — everything from Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign to Stephen Colbert’s exit from CBS and broader issues like education and government accountability.

Schlossberg’s political engagement intensified after his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a presidential run in 2023. At the time, Schlossberg criticized RFK Jr., an anti-vaccine activist, accusing him of exploiting the Kennedy name without continuing the family’s public service mission.

“President John F. Kennedy is my grandfather and his legacy is important,” Schlossberg said. “It’s about public service and courage. It’s about civil rights, the Cuban missile crisis, and landing a man on the moon. If my cousin Bobby Kennedy Jr. cared about any of that, he would support Joe Biden too.”

The son of U.S. ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Schlossberg studied history at Yale University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. After graduating in 2015, he accompanied his mother to Japan during her ambassadorship under President Barack Obama before returning to Harvard, where he earned both a Juris Doctor and MBA. He passed the New York bar on his first attempt in 2023, reportedly scoring in the top 1%.

When asked in 2024 by Town & Country about a political career, he said, “Not anytime soon, but I love politics. I love public service. I’m inspired by my family’s legacy. But I have no immediate plans.”

That changed after Nadler, 78, announced he would vacate New York’s 12th Congressional District seat — one of the most Democratic areas in the nation, covering much of Midtown and Uptown Manhattan. Schlossberg soon formed an exploratory committee for a potential 2026 campaign.

Although Nadler initially encouraged “generational change,” he later expressed skepticism about Schlossberg’s candidacy, telling CNN’s Kate Bolduan, “The Kennedy, unlike Schlossberg, should be somebody with a record of public service and accomplishment — and he doesn’t have one.”

Nadler added that the younger Kennedy “certainly is not going to be a major candidate.”

In response, Schlossberg took to Instagram to highlight his credentials and outline his platform, citing his experience at the JFK Library & Museum and his two appearances at the Democratic National Convention.

He now faces a crowded 2026 field that includes New York Assemblyman Micah Lasher, Rhodes Scholar Liam Elkind, and Assembly member Alex Bores. Other rumored or confirmed contenders include former Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, journalist Molly Jong-Fast, ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, and several New York City councilmembers.

Schlossberg’s grandfather, John F. Kennedy, also began his political journey in Congress, representing Massachusetts before becoming a senator and later the 35th president of the United States. JFK was just 29 years old when he first won a congressional seat — a legacy his grandson now hopes to carry forward.