Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy, is riding his massive social media following into one of the most expensive House primaries in American history, with super PACs pouring nearly $30 million into the race for New York’s 12th congressional district ahead of the June 23 primary.
The 33-year-old Kennedy scion has amassed 884,000 followers on Instagram and 179,500 on X, where he regularly posts political commentary and personal videos. That online presence has made him a nationally watched figure in the race to replace retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler in a deep blue Manhattan district.
Schlossberg’s campaign reflects a tension at the heart of modern Democratic politics: whether youth, celebrity, and digital savvy can substitute for traditional political credentials. He holds an MBA from Harvard and worked as a Vogue political correspondent in 2024, writing seven articles for the magazine, but has no experience holding public office.
His rivals bring more conventional résumés. Micah Lasher, a state representative, served as chief of staff to the New York attorney general and worked as an aide to Nadler himself—who endorsed Lasher in February. Alex Bores, another state representative, has made artificial intelligence regulation his signature issue, drawing massive outside spending from tech companies. George Conway, a former Republican and vocal Trump critic, has been a frequent CNN contributor and recently moved back to New York City.
The race has become a proxy battle over what Democrats value most. Lasher leads with experience and has Nadler’s backing. Bores has attracted roughly $12 million in outside spending from AI companies, with Anthropic supporting him while OpenAI-backed groups attack him. Conway has raised $6.6 million, partly from a $2 million personal loan to his campaign.
Schlossberg raised $3.9 million as of early June, including a $1 million personal loan, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed him in February, calling him “the best of his generation,” citing his Kennedy heritage and youthful energy at a time when the Democratic Party faces criticism for its aging leadership.
The race has grown contentious in its final days. Schlossberg has accused opponents of paying bot farms to attack him online and lashed out at a rival consulting firm. The scale of outside spending—with super PACs trading fire over issues from AI regulation to Trump opposition—has transformed what might have been a typical New York primary into a nationally watched contest about the party’s future direction.
Sources
- The Wall Street Journal — Jack Schlossberg’s social media following, the $30 million in super PAC spending, his Harvard MBA and Vogue work, campaign staff turnover, and accusations of bot farm attacks
- The Guardian — Candidate backgrounds, Nadler’s endorsement of Lasher, the AI spending battle between Anthropic and OpenAI-backed groups, Pelosi’s endorsement of Schlossberg, and Conway’s fundraising
- Federal Election Commission — Schlossberg and Conway fundraising totals and personal loan amounts as of June 3, 2026
- Ballotpedia — Primary date of June 23, 2026, and list of Democratic candidates
