Jack Schlossberg has officially announced that he is running for Congress, following earlier speculation after longtime New York Rep. Jerry Nadler declared his upcoming retirement.
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Schlossberg — 32 and the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy — revealed his campaign in an email to supporters and in an interview with The New York Times. He framed the race as pivotal to restoring democratic norms by regaining a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
“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 Times. “But without the control of Congress, there’s almost nothing that we can do.”
Schlossberg has built a strong presence online in recent years by blending sharp political commentary with a bold, humorous personal brand. His willingness to post provocatively — from joking about political figures to sharing playful “thirst trap” content paired with philosophical monologues — has driven both attention and criticism.
Speaking to MSNBC’s Jen Psaki earlier this year, he noted that his approach reflects a belief that Democrats must communicate more creatively to break through online noise.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(708x176:710x178):format(webp)/jack-schlossberg-jfk-profile-in-courage-awards-103023-891ccc89292747d0a105c3ea0daffed8.jpg)
Amid his comedic and chaotic social media style, he regularly slips in serious political opinions — particularly on issues like democratic accountability and national leadership. His web series Test Drive, launched in July 2025, allows him to explore current events more deeply while recording from inside a black sprinter van.
Schlossberg has also been vocal against his controversial relative, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after RFK Jr. launched a third-party presidential bid in 2023. He criticized his cousin for leveraging the Kennedy name without advancing the family’s legacy of public service.
“It’s about civil rights, the Cuban missile crisis, and landing a man on the moon,” he said previously. “If my cousin Bobby Kennedy Jr. cared about any of them, he would support Joe Biden, too.”
A Yale graduate and former editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, Schlossberg spent time in Japan while his mother, Caroline Kennedy, served as U.S. ambassador. He later earned dual degrees — an MBA and a JD — from Harvard University, passing the New York bar exam on his first attempt.
While he once brushed off the idea of running for office, Nadler’s exit from the prized Manhattan district and encouragement for “generational change” pushed him to reconsider.
New York’s 12th Congressional District — covering Midtown and Uptown Manhattan — is the smallest by land area in the nation and among the most solidly Democratic. But Nadler, after initially praising fresh leadership, later questioned Schlossberg’s experience, saying that a candidate should have “a record of public service and public accomplishment.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(929x358:931x360):format(webp)/Jack-Schlossberg-Podcast-020925-02-3d19ee71af2643718b167ae933050c78.jpg)
Schlossberg appeared to take that as motivation. In recent days, he has used Instagram to share policy goals and highlight his involvement with public institutions like the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum. He has also twice addressed the Democratic National Convention.
The 2026 Democratic primary will be competitive. Among others, Schlossberg will face New York State Assemblyman Micah Lasher, Rhodes Scholar Liam Elkind, and Assembly member Alex Bores. Additional potential challengers — including former Rep. Carolyn Maloney and several well-known city figures — have been floated, though not all are expected to enter the race.
Schlossberg’s path mirrors that of his grandfather: John F. Kennedy entered politics with a successful congressional run at age 29 before rising to the Senate and ultimately the presidency. Schlossberg now hopes to begin his own chapter — in the same “family business” of public service.
