{"id":155256,"date":"2026-03-06T13:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/155256\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:36:14","slug":"ny-12-primary-kennedy-heir-jack-schlossberg-looks-to-translate-attention-into-votes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/155256\/","title":{"rendered":"NY-12 Primary: Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg looks to translate attention into votes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few dozen people gathered for what Jack Schlossberg\u2019s campaign<\/a> called a Sunday afternoon \u201cpizza party\u201d \u2014 an informal meet-and-greet designed to recruit volunteers, answer questions, and connect with voters directly in the run-up to June\u2019s Democratic primary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy and the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy<\/a>, entered the race with something few first-time congressional candidates possess: instant name recognition and the kind of media attention that can turn a down-ballot contest into a national curiosity. <\/p>\n

But in the 12th Congressional District covering much of central Manhattan \u2014 a district known for a politically engaged electorate and a dense ecosystem of Democratic clubs, endorsements, and local political relationships \u2014 visibility alone rarely decides elections, pundits note.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, the 78-year-old longtime representative of the district, announced he would not seek re-election<\/a>, Schlossberg, 33, entered the race with a slew of competitors. He has tried to pair the celebrity of his last name with a policy-focused pitch and volunteer energy. <\/p>\n

According to his campaign, Schlosberg has so far amassed close to 2,000 volunteers to get the word out.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only candidate who\u2019s really put forward concrete plans,\u201d Schlossberg told amNewYork during an interview after the March 1 event. He pointed to proposals including a housing fairness plan, a proposal aimed at lowering the cost of food and clothing, and what he calls a \u201cricochet rule\u201d designed to curb the flow of illegal guns into New York. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think the best way to differentiate yourself is on policy,\u201d he opined.\n<\/p>\n

Schlossberg has also described a renter-focused tax idea \u2014 allowing renters to deduct rent payments from their taxable income, similar in spirit to the way homeowners can deduct mortgage interest \u2014 as a way to address affordability in high-cost places like the stretch of Manhattan he is looking to represent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Voters express curiosity in Schlossberg bid<\/p>\n

At the pizza party in Chelsea, attendees mingled with campaign staff, spoke with Schlossberg as he made the rounds, and discussed issues ranging from housing costs to national politics. Some said they were drawn to the campaign\u2019s generational message. Cody Vest, a Hell\u2019s Kitchen resident who attended the event, said Schlossberg represented an opportunity for younger leadership in Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would really also just like some fresh blood in Congress instead of these septuagenarians and octogenarians,\u201d Vest said. \u201cI want some young people in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others were curious but undecided. Brendan McGrath, a Chelsea resident who attended the gathering, said he had followed Schlossberg on social media for several years and appreciated his willingness to challenge the political establishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a really strong, bold voice\u2026 not afraid to shake things up,\u201d McGrath said.\n<\/p>\n

But he added that he has not yet decided how he will vote in the Democratic primary.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure who I\u2019ll vote for ultimately,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll decide when I walk in on election day.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The mixed reactions sum up the challenge Schlossberg faces in translating attention into political support in one of the country\u2019s most scrutinizing congressional districts.<\/p>\n

An uphill battle for upstart candidate\u00a0
\n\"\"Jack Schlossberg listens to a supporter over pizza \u2013 his new weekly outreach to generate campaign volunteersPhoto by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n

Michael Lange<\/a>, a political analyst who closely follows local races (and who moderated a recent candidate debate in the contest), described NY-12 as an electorate that tends to prioritize policy depth and government experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a relatively older, very engaged, upper-class electorate\u2026 and extremely focused on substance,\u201d Lange said.\n<\/p>\n

That dynamic, Lange suggested, can make it difficult for candidates without extensive government experience to stand out \u2014 even if they enter with strong name recognition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI still don\u2019t really know what his coherent message is,\u201d Lange added of Schlosberg\u2019s \u2018Believe in Something Again\u2019 campaign slogan.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The race to succeed Nadler has drawn several candidates, including Assemblymembers Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, both of whom represent the area and have longer histories in local and national Democratic politics. Nadler has publicly endorsed Lasher, his longtime former aide, to succeed him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Eli Miller, who writes the local politics Substack Ghost Runner<\/a> and recently launched a podcast dissecting the NY12 race, said the district\u2019s institutional networks \u2014 including Democratic clubs, neighborhood organizations, and endorsements from elected officials \u2014 often play a decisive role in primary elections.<\/p>\n

Lasher has consolidated significant support from Democratic elected officials and local political organizations across Manhattan. His endorsements include longtime City Comptroller Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Council Member Gale Brewer, and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, among others. Several influential local Democratic clubs \u2014 including West Side Democrats, Village Independent Democrats, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Independent Democrats \u2014 have also backed his campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bores, meanwhile, has also secured a number of endorsements that reflect his ties to elected officials and Democratic activists in Manhattan.\n<\/p>\n

Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney \u2014 who represented much of the Upper East Side in Congress for three decades before Nadler unseated her in 2022 when they were redistricted into the same area \u2014 has endorsed his campaign, positioning him as a prominent East Side contender in the race. He has also received backing from several fellow members of the New York State Assembly, as well as Democratic clubs, including the East Side Democrats, the Lexington Democratic Club, and the Four Freedoms Democratic Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just not that much room for an insurgent campaign,\u201d Miller told amNewYork.\n<\/p>\n

He argued that Schlossberg\u2019s recognition is a real asset \u2014 it gets voters to pay attention \u2014 but that attention doesn\u2019t automatically convert into support.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognition and attention is a massive asset,\u201d Miller said. \u201cBut I don\u2019t see how people hear about him\u2026 and then conclude that this is the person they want to represent them in Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"McGrath grabs a photo with SchlossbergPhoto by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n

Schlossberg\u2019s campaign also received a high-profile boost when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed him.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Miller questioned how much weight that kind of national endorsement carries in NY-12, absent tangible local organizing infrastructure.\n<\/p>\n

He described Pelosi\u2019s backing as a kind of \u201cpersonal recommendation\u201d and suggested that, in this particular district, endorsements matter most when they signal deeper political relationships \u2014 like the support of local officials, clubs, or established neighborhood networks \u2014 or when they bring volunteers and organizing muscle that can move votes.<\/p>\n

Financial disclosures and climate policy<\/p>\n

As voters in NY-12 weigh the candidates\u2019 policy positions and backgrounds, Schlossberg\u2019s financial disclosures provide a window into his personal holdings \u2014 including oil and gas royalty interests tied to energy production in Texas and Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

According to a financial disclosure report<\/a> filed with the House of Representatives, Schlossberg reports receiving income from a family trust connected to Arctic Royalty LP, which holds interests in several oil and gas operators in those states. <\/p>\n

The filing lists multiple royalty streams from companies, including Hilcorp Energy, Ovintiv USA Inc., Contango Oil & Gas Management LLC, and Riley Permian Operating Co. Individual payments reported on the disclosure form generally range from $1,001 to $15,000.<\/p>\n

The holdings stand in contrast to the emphasis Schlossberg has placed on climate policy during his campaign. He has called for strengthening federal environmental laws and expanding regulators\u2019 ability to curb greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n

On his campaign website, Schlossberg has proposed updating the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to explicitly grant the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gases, while also supporting stronger enforcement powers and increased investment in climate adaptation and renewable energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cClimate change requires immediate action,\u201d Schlossberg says on the campaign site, pledging to protect air and water quality while supporting economic growth.<\/p>\n

The disclosure does not indicate that Schlossberg plays any operational role in the energy holdings. The royalties are held through a family trust structure \u2014 a common arrangement in large multigenerational estates \u2014 and federal financial disclosure forms report income in broad ranges rather than exact amounts.<\/p>\n

Scrutiny of fossil-fuel investments is not new for members of the Kennedy family seeking public office.\n<\/p>\n

During his 2024 presidential campaign, current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. \u2014 Schlossberg\u2019s cousin, whom he has accused of hijacking the Kennedy legacy \u2014 faced similar questions<\/a> after financial disclosures revealed income from the same oil and gas interests tied to the family.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Schlossberg reported no earned income during the filing period, with most of his assets held through trusts and investment accounts containing diversified securities and private funds. The filing lists four trusts connected to the candidate that hold a range of financial assets and\u00a0real estate interests.<\/p>\n

Among the holdings listed is an investment in Rory\u2019s Place LLC, a restaurant in Ojai, California. The restaurant is operated by Rory and Maeve McAuliffe; McAuliffe is married to Schlossberg\u2019s sister, Rose Kennedy Schlossberg. The disclosure lists the investment at a value between $1,001 and $15,000.<\/p>\n

Federal disclosure forms list asset values in broad ranges rather than exact figures, and based on those ranges, Schlossberg\u2019s disclosed assets appear to total roughly between $10 million and $30 million, though the exact value cannot be determined from the filing.<\/p>\n

The disclosure also lists Schlossberg as a previous political correspondent for Vogue and a managing member of Squid Island LLC, a company that produces political commentary for social media.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Schlossberg\u2019s campaign said that the candidate filed his disclosure early because he believes voters should have transparency into candidates\u2019 finances.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cJack was one of the first to submit his disclosure because he believes voters should know exactly what is going on with the candidates,\u201d the spokesperson said in a statement. \u201cJack invests in the market like millions of Americans, doesn\u2019t mess around with companies like Palantir, and supports a congressional stock trading ban.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n

The spokesperson also framed the issue as part of a broader debate about transparency in government.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the countless Americans invested in the market, one thing matters most: the corruption crisis,\u201d the statement continued. \u201cHow is the President and his family allowed to rake in billions with no questions asked, no disclosures at all? That\u2019s the real issue, and one of the main reasons Jack is in this fight. We need more transparency, not less.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the energy interests, Schlossberg\u2019s filing shows extensive assets held in brokerage accounts and trusts, including diversified stock and bond funds, private credit investments, and exchange-traded funds.<\/p>\n

He also reports commercial real estate holdings in Chicago through Wolf Point Owners LLC, which maintains an ownership stake in the four-acre Wolf Point development site. The entity is part of Park Holdings Group LLC, an investment vehicle tied to the Kennedy family. The Chicago real estate assets are valued in the millions of dollars according to the ranges listed in the disclosure.<\/p>\n

According to the\u00a0latest filings with the Federal Election Commission<\/a>, Schlossberg\u2019s campaign committee has raised about $1.13 million since launching in November, up to Dec. 31, 2025. The campaign said the total includes more than 25,000 contributions, a figure that includes small-dollar donations under $200 that are not individually itemized in Federal Election Commission reports. More than 1,300 contributions exceeded $200 and were itemized in the filings, according to campaign finance records.<\/p>\n

Early donors include Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, singer and actor Bette Midler, actor John Goodman, and musician Paul Simon, who each contributed about $3,300, according to campaign finance records. Schlossberg\u2019s mother, Caroline Kennedy, gave $3,300 for the primary and $3,300 for the general election, while his father, designer and author Edwin Schlossberg, contributed $2,950 for the primary and $2,950 for the general election.<\/p>\n

Foreign policy and Trump<\/p>\n

Schlossberg has cast part of his campaign as a direct challenge to President Donald Trump, suggesting to amNewYork that the president and his allies view him as a political threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI scare them, and I think that\u2019s a real opportunity for NY12 to put itself on the map as the start of the movement that ends Trump,\u201d he said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

But political observers like Lange say opposition to Trump is already a defining feature of politics in the district, and that simply positioning oneself as an anti-Trump candidate may not be enough to stand out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do think Trump is obviously top of mind,\u201d Lange said. \u201cBasically, every conversation to some extent is framed around defending New York from Trump, standing up to Trump, countering Trump.\u201d That dynamic, he said, reflects the district\u2019s highly engaged electorate, where national politics often loom as large as local issues.<\/p>\n

Still, Lange questioned whether Schlossberg\u2019s framing of himself as a personal antagonist to Trump would resonate with voters.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if that\u2019s going to land,\u201d Lange said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019s demonstrated himself to be a communicator in a way that Trump would actually fear or respect.\u201d
\n\"\"Jack Schlossberg speaking with amNY outside Don Giovanni Pizza on Sunday. March 1, 2026.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell\n<\/p>\n

That district dynamic extends into debates over foreign policy, which have become a particularly sensitive issue in the race, especially questions surrounding Israel and the war in Gaza \u2014 an issue with particular salience in NY-12, which includes a large Jewish population alongside progressive voters who have been sharply critical of Israeli government policy, Lange noted.<\/p>\n

At a recent debate moderated by Lange, Schlossberg initially appeared uncertain when responding to a question about the conflict, Lange said \u2014 a moment that illustrated how carefully candidates must navigate the issue in the district.<\/p>\n

In a follow-up statement provided to amNewYork after the debate, Schlossberg clarified his position: \u201cFirst, Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump are both obstacles to peace. As long as those two are in power, I will look very carefully at any and all military aid being provided. The war in Iran leaves us all with more questions than answers. Forever wars are a real danger for us all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schlossberg also addressed foreign policy at the pizza-party event itself, criticizing the Trump administration the morning after its strikes on Iran. Calling the action \u201clawless,\u201d he warned that it could lead to \u201ca more extremist, more hard-line government.\u201d<\/p>\n

That TV show and the \u2018Kennedy moment\u2019<\/p>\n

At the same time, Schlossberg\u2019s candidacy is unfolding amid renewed cultural fascination with the Kennedy family. FX\u2019s \u201cLove Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette<\/a>\u201d premiered in February and has reignited public interest in the couple\u2019s relationship and style, fueling a wave of online commentary and fashion nostalgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That nostalgia has spilled beyond social media and into real-world events. Men have been trying their best to recreate Kennedy Jr.\u2019s signature look, a backward baseball cap paired with a shirt and tie, while women have been flocking to C.O. Bigelow, the historic West Village pharmacy, for $36 tortoiseshell headbands famously worn by Bessette-Kennedy. And good luck getting a reservation at their date-night spot, Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The trend has even inspired JFK. Jr. look-alike \u2013 with two planned in Manhattan over the next week. One upcoming contest in Washington Square Park is being organized by Lahari Amirisetti, a FIT student behind a fashion-and-technology publication, who said the idea emerged as interest in the show surged online.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just wanted to create a community where the \u201990s style can be really appreciated again,\u201d said Amirisetti, describing the event as a way to connect people offline and channel the renewed interest into something communal and fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe feels really parallel to his uncle,\u201d she said,\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s always pressure with being in the public eye, and I think Jack might feel the same way.\u201d She added that while the show appealed to her on a surface level, it did make her want to learn more about the Kennedy clan and, in turn, Schlosberg.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"FX\u2019s Love Story: Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr., Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette.Photo courtesy of FX<\/p>\n

The renewed fascination with the Kennedy family inevitably brings attention to Schlossberg, the latest member of the family to run for public office. Asked about the renewed attention around his aunt and uncle following the show\u2019s release, Schlossberg said he sees the Kennedy legacy primarily through the lens of public service.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy uncle John tried hard to educate people and engage them in politics,\u201d he said, adding that he ultimately views his own campaign as separate from how the family is portrayed in pop culture. \u201cI come from a family of public servants\u2026 but I\u2019m my own person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schlossberg has been sharply critical of the series since production began last summer, and repeatedly accused the show\u2019s creators of exploiting his family\u2019s history and distorting their lives. In recent interviews, he has intensified those criticisms, arguing that the series presents a fictionalized version of events and urging viewers to remember that the dramatization should not be mistaken for history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s release has also coincided with a difficult period for the Kennedy-Schlossberg family. Schlossberg\u2019s sister, environmental journalist and author Tatiana Schlossberg, died in December at age 35 after battling acute myeloid leukemia. In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning<\/a>, Jack Schlossberg said her final words to him referenced his campaign: \u201cThe last thing that she said to me was, \u2018You better win.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Attention vs. organization
\n\"\"Photo by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n

For political observers, the question now is whether the attention surrounding Jack Schlossberg \u2014 from his family name, media coverage, and a pop-culture moment he didn\u2019t create \u2014 can translate into meaningful political support in a district where voters are known for close scrutiny.<\/p>\n

In NY-12, analysts like Miller and Lange say, that requires more than visibility. It requires policy credibility, local relationships, and a campaign capable of reaching the kind of highly engaged voters who show up for forums, read endorsements closely, and expect candidates to explain not just what they support, but how they would govern.<\/p>\n

Schlossberg\u2019s campaign is betting that volunteer energy can help close that gap. In remarks to supporters at the pizza party, he argued that the race will ultimately be determined by field work.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolitics is really about organizing everybody,\u201d Schlossberg told the crowd. \u201cWhoever wins is the most organized.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

And for several attendees of Sunday\u2019s pizza party, Schlosberg has been successful at drawing them in with messaging and energy.\n<\/p>\n

Lisa Marie, a 24-year-old who lives in the Village, said the campaign\u2019s slogan \u2014 \u201cBelieve in something again\u201d \u2014 resonated with her and pointed to what she described as Schlossberg\u2019s ability to engage supporters directly, both online and at events. Jose, who lives in Turtle Bay, said he was drawn to what he described as Schlossberg\u2019s sincerity and willingness to speak his mind, arguing that the campaign blends progressive ideas with a pragmatic approach.<\/p>\n

Whether the attention surrounding Schlossberg ultimately translates into votes remains one of the central questions in the NY-12 primary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A few dozen people gathered for what Jack Schlossberg\u2019s campaign called a Sunday afternoon \u201cpizza party\u201d \u2014 an…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":155257,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[64242,64243,64244,64245,64246,64247,64248,21558,64249,64250,64251,75,84,83,13024,64252,9,24,64253,64254,22547,63],"class_list":["post-155256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-anti-trump-messaging","tag-campaign-finance-disclosure","tag-campaign-volunteer-organizing","tag-climate-policy-fossil-fuels","tag-democratic-primary-2026","tag-housing-affordability-policy","tag-israel-gaza-foreign-policy","tag-jack-schlossberg","tag-jerry-nadler-successor","tag-jfk-cultural-nostalgia","tag-kennedy-family-legacy","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-manhattan-politics","tag-nancy-pelosi-endorsement","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-congressional-district","tag-ny-12-congressional-race","tag-ny12","tag-nyc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}