It’s official: District 3 City Council Member Erik Bottcher, a member of the Democratic Party, wants to represent Manhattan in the US Congress.
Bottcher made the announcement on Thursday, Nov. 13, weeks after it was first reported that he had filed initial plans to make the run. He’s seeking to replace US Representative Jerrold Nadler when the latter retires from New York’s 12th Congressional seat—which is generally understood as stretching from around West 14th Street to West 110th Street—in 2026.
Bottcher was just re-elected to his second term as City Council member on Nov. 4, meaning he won’t serve out his entire term in that role if he’s elected to higher office.
He’ll join an already-crowded field of competitors, including other local Manhattan representatives, namely State Assembly Members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores. Jack Schlossberg, a Democratic activist and John F. Kennedy’s grandson, made a high-profile entrance into the race on Nov. 12 and was featured in a lengthy Sunday New York Times profile by Maureen Dowd.
Other candidates include nonprofit founder Liam Elkind, journalist and Community Board 7 Member Jami Floyd, and Wall Street alum Alan Pardee.
Bottcher posted a video on social media to accompany his announcement. Directly addressing the camera, he begins his remarks by explaining why he believes the place he represents is special: “For 400 years, New York City has been the city where anyone from anywhere could become someone. That is the New York City dream.
“But right now, that dream is under attack by a bully in the White House who hates everything we stand for,” Bottcher continues, his comments interspersed with footage of President Donald Trump and federal agents. “I’ve been taking on bullies my whole life,” he adds.
Bottcher then ties the theme to his backstory, accompanied by photos of him as a kid. “I grew up a closeted gay kid in the Adirondack Mountains. I was isolated. I was hopeless. I was bullied. I even tried to take my own life. . . . But in New York City, I found a place that accepted me,” he says. “I built a life better than I ever dreamed of—as an activist, and now [by] serving my community on the New York City Council.”
If Bottcher has a campaign slogan, it appears to be “government should make people’s lives better,” as well as emphasizing that he’s part of a “new generation” that is “ready to win tough fights.”
His video, as well as his campaign website, draws attention to the work he’s spearheaded or been a part of as a City Council member: passing mental health legislation, reform New York City’s scaffolding system, containerizing trash, expanding the city’s tree canopy, and delivering “thousands of units of affordable housing.” A more complete platform of what initiatives he’d bring to the US Congress has yet to be unveiled.
Bottcher began his political career in 2009, by serving as the LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Community Liaison for the City Council’s community outreach unit. He then served as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the New York Governor’s office, where he was involved in the push for marriage equality, before serving as chief of staff for his District 3 predecessor, Corey Johnson.
Why Is Bottcher Running?
The staff on the Erik Bottcher for Congress campaign, which are (by law) a different group of people than the Council Member’s legislative staff, were not able to respond to Straus News’ interview request by press time. One pressing question was: “Why did he jump into the crowded fray?”
While an interview with candidate Bottcher is forthcoming, until then, ponder his answer to the Bottcher for City Council question: “What makes you best candidate for the job?”
“I’m running for re-election because I’ve delivered real results—and because there’s still so much more to do. Over the past four years, I’ve passed landmark legislation to expand access to mental healthcare, overhaul the city’s outdated sidewalk-shed system, and make our neighborhoods cleaner, greener, and safer.
“I’ve negotiated major rezonings, like the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan that will create nearly 10,000 new homes—including thousands of permanently affordable units—while bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in community investments to our district.
“I know how to get things done in City Hall while staying rooted in the day-to-day concerns of my constituents. From affordable housing and mental health to the arts, small business recovery, and cleaner streets, I’ve built a record of progress that reflects the values of our community—fairness, compassion, and a belief that government can and must deliver.”