Democratic New York state Rep. Micah Lasher won Tuesday’s primary to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, defeating a crowded field that included Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway and Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg.
Lasher narrowly prevailed over fellow New York state Rep. Alex Bores, according to Decision Desk HQ and NBC News. Bores, a former Palantir employee, campaigned heavily on artificial intelligence regulation and touted his work on the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act.
The race for New York’s 12th Congressional District drew national attention because of its unusual mix of candidates, including longtime Democratic insiders, media personalities and political celebrities.
Lasher entered the contest with a powerful endorsement list that included Nadler, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Gov. David Paterson. His campaign platform emphasized opposition to President Donald Trump, climate policy and support for transgender medical procedures for minors.
Bores attempted to frame the race as a battle over the future of artificial intelligence regulation. He argued that wealthy tech interests opposed his candidacy because of his support for strict AI oversight.
“This race started with AI megadonors pledging $10 million to stop me because they were afraid after I passed the strongest AI safety law in the country,” Bores said in a statement.
Lasher, meanwhile, accused Bores of being too closely tied to the tech industry, an allegation Bores repeatedly denied.
Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, entered the race in November 2025 and received endorsements from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and his mother, Caroline Kennedy. His campaign priorities included abortion protections, Medicaid access for Planned Parenthood, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and expanding access to transgender procedures.
Despite his famous family name and social media following, Schlossberg failed to break through in the primary. During a debate, Lasher accused him of benefiting from nepotism.
“I’m on this stage because of nearly two decades in public service,” Lasher said. “I say this somewhat sheepishly and mournfully, but when we talk about the reasons that each of us are on this stage…”
Schlossberg rejected the premise.
“I have made my way here myself,” he replied. “Do not ever invoke my family name to try to denigrate who I am.”
Conway also failed to convert national media attention into votes. The anti-Trump attorney and Lincoln Project co-founder built his campaign around opposition to Trump and “Trumpism.” He changed his residence from Bethesda, Maryland, to Manhattan and registered as a Democrat in order to run.
Conway’s campaign included several attention-grabbing moments, including his appearance at a “No Kings” rally wearing a shirt reading “I am Antifa.” He also posted a parody song celebrating the acquittal of a former Justice Department employee accused of throwing a Subway sandwich at a law enforcement agent.
The district has long been represented by Nadler, a prominent Trump antagonist who served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and helped lead impeachment efforts against the president during Trump’s first term. Nadler also played a central role in congressional investigations into Trump’s campaign, businesses and administration.
Lasher’s victory means the district is likely to remain in the hands of a candidate closely aligned with New York’s Democratic establishment, despite challenges from higher-profile outsiders who entered the race with national name recognition.
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