Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, finished a distant third in the Democratic primary for a Manhattan-based congressional seat, securing less than 11 percent of the vote in a contest marked by heavy outside spending. The result reflects a broader shift in Democratic politics, where voters in high-profile urban districts have increasingly favored candidates backed by progressive coalitions or established local figures over those relying on dynastic name recognition. This defeat follows a trend of diminishing electoral success for members of the Kennedy family in recent primary cycles.
The primary race to succeed retiring Representative Jerry Nadler in New York’s 12th Congressional District—which encompasses some of Manhattan’s most affluent neighborhoods—evolved into a high-stakes financial proxy battle. While Schlossberg entered the race with significant name recognition, the campaign was dominated by super-PAC spending that favored other candidates. According to election filings, the race saw millions of dollars in outside investment, including approximately $11 million from Public First Action, a vehicle linked to Anthropic, and $8 million from Leading the Future, a super-PAC funded by venture capital interests including Andreessen-Horowitz and Greg Brockman.
Shifting Voter Priorities in Urban Primaries
The loss for Schlossberg, a 33-year-old Democratic activist and legal professional, is the latest in a series of electoral setbacks for the Kennedy family. In 2020, Joseph Kennedy III was defeated by Senator Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Democratic primary, and more recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abandoned an independent presidential bid after initially challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. These outcomes indicate that the traditional “Kennedy brand” has struggled to resonate with contemporary Democratic primary electorates, which are increasingly motivated by specific policy agendas and grassroots organizing.
In the New York primary, voters prioritized candidates with established records in state government. Micah Lasher, a former chief of staff to Representative Nadler and a member of the New York State Assembly, emerged as the victor. His campaign benefitted from significant outside support as donors sought to influence the direction of the party in a district long considered a bastion of Democratic stability. The outcome highlights a growing impatience among urban voters with dynastic politics, favoring instead candidates who align with the current ideological energy of the party base.
The Role of Big Tech and Outside Spending
The 12th District race underscored the influence of Silicon Valley capital in local congressional contests. Public First Action’s support for Alex Bores, another state assemblyman, was countered by heavy spending from groups opposing his candidacy. This influx of capital turned a local primary into a nationalized battleground, often obscuring the policy platforms of the candidates themselves. For voters, the sheer volume of advertisements and negative campaigning created a chaotic environment that arguably marginalized candidates who lacked the support of major super-PACs.
Schlossberg’s campaign, which emphasized his background and policy proposals, failed to gain traction against these well-funded machines. While he attempted to leverage his family’s history of public service, voters in the district appeared more focused on the immediate legislative priorities of the city and the influence of tech-sector donors on the democratic process. The result serves as a case study in how modern congressional campaigns are increasingly defined by the ability to raise and deploy massive amounts of capital from ideological or corporate-aligned interests.
What Happens Next for the Kennedy Legacy
The political future of the Kennedy family remains uncertain following these repeated electoral losses. With the retirement of key figures and the failure of younger generations to secure primary victories, the influence of the dynasty in national and local politics appears to be waning. Observers note that the “Camelot” myth, which once provided a powerful electoral advantage, no longer functions as a reliable bridge to modern voters who are more concerned with current economic and social issues than historical legacies.
The next major checkpoint for the Democratic party in this region will be the general election, where the primary winners will face off against challengers in the November cycle. As the party continues to navigate internal divisions regarding the influence of big money in politics and the role of legacy political families, observers will look to upcoming local elections to see if the trend of rejecting dynastic candidates persists. Readers who wish to track further developments in New York’s congressional races can monitor the New York State Board of Elections for official vote tallies and future filing deadlines.